BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Information and Communication Technology conducted its fourth and last public consultation for the proposed Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet in Public Places Act at Newtown Plaza Hotel here, Thursday.
Participants included officials and representatives of regional line agencies, local government units, academic institutions and private ICT stakeholders.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed last August RA 10929 that aims to provide free wifi connectivity to every community that will eventually fast track the delivery of government programs and services to the people.
DICT Assistant Secretary Carlos Caliwara outlined RA 10929 which aims to bring connectivity to communities especially those not being reached by private telecommunications companies.
The DICT, under RA 10929, targets to connect 4,000 areas this year and another 13,000 by 2018. These will cover national and local government agencies, public schools, state universities and colleges and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) technology institutions, government health facilities (hospitals/health centers/rural health units), public parks and libraries, seaports, airports and public transport terminals.
With the National Broadband Plan for a fully connected government portal and a digitalized citizenry through free public wifi connectivity in every community in the country, there will be a direct and faster delivery of government programs and services to the people, he stressed.
Eric Toledo also gave a briefing about “PipolKonek”, DICT’s Free Public Wifi project.
After the public consultations held in Quezon City for National Capital Region, Davao for Mindanao, Iloilo City for Visayas and Baguio for Northern Luzon, the IRR of RA 10929 is now up for finalization then publication and eventual implementation. **PIA CAR
