State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has called for a review of the effectiveness of the government’s free public internet program to ensure its long-term sustainability.

In an Aug. 25 comment on Republic Act (RA) No. 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, PIDS senior research fellow Ramonette B. Serafica and research specialist Queen Cel A. Oren suggested that possible amendments to this law could be useful in addressing implementation issues raised in Sen. Bam Aquino’s recent privilege speech titled “Internet Koneksyon para sa Edukasyon.”

PIDS noted that RA 10929 mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to submit an annual report detailing the program’s status and recommending policies to ensure its effective implementation.

Also, the law requires the DICT to gather, monitor, and publish data on the cost, performance, service quality, and compliance with minimum standards for free public internet access points.

PIDS said that evaluating the quality, accessibility, and cost-efficiency of the government’s free public internet access program can help identify areas for improvement.

“An assessment of the state of internet connectivity will also require inputs from industry as the private sector can complement government initiatives,” the think tank said.

It also noted that the recently enacted Konektadong Pinoy (KP) Act, which seeks to strengthen the data transmission industry, mandates the DICT to identify unserved and underserved areas, with priority given to locations near educational institutions.

“To aid with the monitoring of the government’s connectivity initiatives, a national broadband map will be useful to track and measure progress in broadband development,” said PIDS.

Data from various internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunications firms would also be essential for accurately mapping the availability of fixed broadband services across the country, it added.

But PIDS cautioned that the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system should go beyond assessing internet connectivity availability—it must determine whether the beneficiaries are truly gaining from the program.

PIDS noted that RA 10929 supposedly covers public places like “government hospitals and health centers, national and local government offices, public libraries, public parks, plazas, public schools, state and local universities and colleges, TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority] institutions, transport terminals, and other identified open public areas across the country,” under Section 4 of the law.

Since the internet is simply a means to achieve broader socioeconomic objectives, it is important to assess its actual impact, the think tank pointed out.

In the case of educational institutions, for instance, “the impact of internet access on student and school performance should be examined,” PIDS said, adding that “this activity could be undertaken jointly by the DICT and the DepEd [Department of Education].”

For PIDS, demand-side interventions are just as crucial, citing that beyond ensuring access to affordable or free reliable internet and devices, it is also vital to improve digital literacy and offer relevant content to fully leverage the internet for meaningful and productive use.

PIDS also highlighted that the development of innovative online services in education, public health, and other government sectors will help promote greater usage and engagement.

Customized digital applications for different sectors can also boost internet adoption, PIDS said.

As part of M&E efforts, tracking internet usage by specific activities can offer valuable insights into how the program is being used productively for education, employment, innovation, and other key areas, it added.

Needs assessments and digital readiness surveys at the community level can also guide the design of targeted support and interventions, helping ensure that demand-side strategies are responsive and effective, according to the think tank.

(Ricardo M. Austria)