TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) — Nearly 4,000 learners and teachers in Kalinga are now able to access online resources, thanks to the Bayanihan SIM Project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
DICT-Kalinga reported that the Bayanihan SIM distribution has already reached more than 20 schools across Kalinga, with more beneficiaries in the towns of Pasil and Pinukpuk targeted to be covered this month.
“We already distributed 3,887 SIM cards sa mga schools natin, except for Pasil and Tinglayan. Tinglayan is scheduled next week and Pasil would be siguro last week of this month,” said DICT-Kalinga information officer and cybersecurity provincial focal person Lawrence Aquino during the special Kapehan meeting on June 23, 2026, at the Provincial Capitol.
Under the initiative, free SIM cards pre-loaded with 25 gigabytes of monthly data for 12 months are distributed to the beneficiaries to support their education and connect them to government services, learning resources, online opportunities, and other vital digital tools.
The government’s flagship digital inclusion project primarily serves learners, school staff, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in far-flung areas to ensure they get the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.
Aquino said the distributed SIM cards are equipped with controls for a safe and child-friendly internet surfing for the beneficiaries.
“Daytuy metlang ket naikkan ti geofencing which means naikkan met lang ti added security na so may parental control po tayo, natanggal po ‘yung mga adult content po natin and mga games and mga shopping sites. ‘Yun po ‘yung ginawa natin para masiguro natin na magamit for purpose of education,” he said.
The Bayanihan SIM project is being implemented in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and telecommunication companies. **JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga
