Expanded free public WiFi program gets P5 billion funding

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February 3, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration has earmarked another P5 billion to expand public WiFi hotspots, allowing students in public schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide to enjoy “password-free internet access.”

“We are counting on the program’s expansion to boost access to online learning, distance education and vital digital services, particularly in underserved and remote communities,” Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said.

The lone Eastern Samar district congressman cited the 2026 General Appropriations Act, under which Congress allocated an additional P5 billion to support the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP) in SUCs and public elementary and high schools nationwide.

The new funding supplements the P7.5 billion allotted for the FPIAP in 2025.

Gonzales said the program will empower residents in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas by enabling access to critical online resources, including government skills-training platforms and employment services – key tools for securing sustainable jobs and livelihoods.

“Strengthening digital infrastructure in off-grid and hard-to-reach communities is essential to closing persistent development gaps and ensuring that all Filipinos can participate in the digital economy,” the House assistant minority leader said.

Republic Act 10929, or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, mandates the nationwide installation of free internet access points in public spaces, including parks, libraries, barangay halls, elementary and secondary schools, SUCs, hospitals, airports, seaports and land transport terminals.

Funding for the FPIAP is sourced from spectrum user fees collected by the National Telecommunications Commission from private telecommunications companies.

Aside from expanding digital connectivity in public schools and state universities and colleges, the Department of Education is also working toward expanding the School-Based Feeding Program, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said.

“We will have universal feeding for all public schools in the Philippines for kindergarten and Grade 1, all for 180 days for the full school cycle – for the first time in Philippine history. And the budget is now almost 10 times more,” Angara said.

He said strengthening learning foundations, particularly in the early grades, is a priority of the department, noting that while developed countries focus heavily on foundational learning, a child’s education should not depend solely on schools but should also be supported at home.

The DepEd has partnered with international organization Open Ownership to pilot the use of beneficial ownership data in public procurement, a move aimed at boosting transparency and preventing corruption in education-related contracts.

Under the partnership, DepEd will pilot the use of beneficial ownership data in procurement to identify the natural persons who ultimately own, control or benefit from companies participating in government contracts, beyond those listed as incorporators or signatories.

The move aims to help flag potential conflicts of interest, undisclosed related parties and other procurement risks, in line with the New Government Procurement Act’s push for stronger transparency and accountability in public contracting. — Evelyn Macairan