Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan town in Palawan get free internet access

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Pag-asa Island and the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan received free internet access after the Department of Information and Communications Technology installed VSAT technology on the territory.

The islands are in the westernmost tip of the Philippine territory, and are considered among the remotest in the country.

“As we bring connectivity to remote areas of the country, including unserved and underserved areas, we are empowering our citizens and enhancing their participation in the global digital economy,” said DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II.

“This year, we are intensifying the implementation of our connectivity programs to achieve more inclusive ICT access.”

It took personnel from DICT Luzon Cluster 3 72 hours to travel from the Palawan mainland to the islands.

The efforts to bring free internet access to the islands is part of the DICT’s drive to ramp up connectivity in the geographically isolated areas across the Philippines.

Cluster 3 also turned over three laptops from the DICT Tech4ED Program to give free ICT access to Pag-asa Island residents through the Tech4ED Center that will be established in the island.

DICT LC3-Palawan Provincial Engineer, Engr. Virgo Pinangay, together with Hon. Roberto Del Mundo, Municipal Mayor of Kalayaan; Hon. Hermoso Ornopia, Municipal Vice Mayor of Kalayaan; along with the rest of the Local Government Unit (LGU) personnel of Kalayaan, took charge of the connectivity program.

EDV