DAVAO CITY – The eSociety Division of the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) mechanized a program dubbed as Tech4ED Project which aims to provide free public WiFi.
The program targets to achieve two major thrusts of the Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) namely: internet opportunities for all the people and investing in people through digital literacy.
The Tech4ED Project will make use of the sustainability channel, the delivery channel and the TV White Space (TVWS) or the free public WiFi.
“This project aims to provide free WiFi access to our constituents in strategic public places,” said Councilor Joanne Bonguyan during regular session Tuesday.
The project promotes grassroots development and opportunities for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
Tech4ED aims to give communities access to information, communication, technology, government services, non-formal education, skills training, telehealth, job markets, and business portals.
“The primary objective is to build up a nationwide connectivity network that will open ICT, enable gateways for education, opportunities, services, markets and productivity,” said Bonguyan.
Tech4ED national project manager Maria Jillian Panganiban said there are three classifications to avail the free public WiFi.
“Anyone can enjoy the 50 mb per day. For government employees, you can actually present your government IDs for you to be able to enjoy that 100 mb per day. And then, if you have this PKI, the Public Key Infrastructure, you can actually enjoy 300 mb,” said Panganiban.
She said that they want to empower the Filipinos, especially those who are living in far-flung areas.
“Tech4ED is actually a technology for education to gain employment and empower all the entrepreneurs out here in Davao towards economic development,” she said.
“It is not just an internet access point, but it will be a training as we go along,” she added.
Panganiban said they are targeting out of school youths and adults, teachers, students, people with disabilities, women, senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers, indigenous people, and the entrepreneurs.
The government envisioned to set up 88 Tech4ED Centers here: public national high schools (64); health centers (18); state colleges (4); public library and public park.(davaotoday.com)
