Bam Aquino pushes for full implementation of Free WiFi Law
At A Glance
- Sen. Paolo "Bam" Aquino IV, chairman of the Senate Committees on Basic Education, and Science and Technology, noted that students and teachers have yet to fully reap the law's promised benefits eight years after its passage.
Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV has called on the government to ensure the full implementation of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act or Republic Act No. 10929.
Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committees on Basic Education, and Science and Technology, noted that students and teachers have yet to fully reap the law’s promised benefits eight years after its passage.
The senator said he is alarmed over the lack of connectivity in schools, saying nearly 12,000 public schools nationwide remain without internet.
He warned that the lack of free WiFi access, especially in far-flung areas, deprives students of equal learning opportunities and while incurring additional expenses for their families.
“According to DepEd (Department of Education), 12,000 schools still do not have internet connection. In our committee on Science and Technology, we will know what the plan is to fill this gap and if this number is correct,” said Aquino during a privilege speech on Monday, August 18.
“For students who do not have a connection at home, the lack of internet at their school is an additional problem and expense for them and their parents,” he said.
“I will repeat: internet connection at school is important and very important. It's 2025 and the country and our youth cannot be offline,” added the lawmaker who worked for the passage of RA 10929 in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in 2017.
According to Aquino, the law’s full implementation is crucial to his proposed e-Textbook Para Sa Lahat Act, as the law will require the digital availability of all DepEd-approved textbooks for basic education on official platforms or other authorized channels, free of charge.
Aquino said he will perform his oversight function as chairman of the science and to ensure the law’s full and proper implementation noting that the government allocated nearly P18-billion for the program from 2018 to 2024 but only about 18,000 sites have been activated.
Senators Loren Legarda and Robin Padilla supported Aquino’s push.
Legarda said she also wants to find out where the P18-billion went and how it was used.
“I am one with you first in knowing why there is a slow implementation of the law. Is it just funding or something else?” Legarda pointed out.
“Second, I’d like to know also where the P18 billion went and how much would it cost for all DepEd schools, SUCs (state universities and colleges), ports, airports, terminals, bus terminals, and public hospitals, and even town plazas and parks,” she noted.