THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology has installed free WiFi hotspots in the remote islands of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as part of its Free Wi-Fi for All Program.

It was the first time that the program reached Sulu.

In Tawi-Tawi, DICT Mindanao Cluster 1 installed WiFi hotspots at the Mindanao State University and Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, Bongao Municipal Town Hall and Tawi-Tawi Provincial Capitol.

In Sulu, hotspots were made available in Parang District Hospital and Mindanao State University.

DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II said that 81 provinces now have internet access.

“Ever since I assumed office as Secretary of your Department of Information and Communications Technology in 2019, my priority had been to establish Free WiFi sites in as many public offices and areas in the country as possible,” Honasan said.

“Through Free Wi-Fi, we want to reach places where there is minimal to no fiber and tower. Thus, we are currently carrying out Free WiFi installation to target more geographically isolated and disadvantaged sites through the use of very small aperture terminal or VSAT Satellite,” he added.

The department has installed 8,145 sites in various national government agencies, hospitals, public schools, state universities and colleges, airports and terminals and other public places nationwide.