SENATOR Grace Poe implored government regulators and telecommunications companies to boost their linkages to provide free WiFi services to public schools.

Poe said the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Education should work closely with the telcos to ensure that students, even in remote schools, experience the fruits of connectivity.

“At a time when the education of our children relies on connectivity, access to the free internet is a crucial need that telcos can help provide,” Poe said.

“What to telcos could be a drop in the bucket can go a long mile for the efficient learning of our students,” the chairperson of the Senate public services committee, added.

Data showed that only around 69 percent of the 45,000 public schools have WiFi access.

“It’s unimaginable for a big population of students not to have access to WiFi especially now when we are saying that online education has become part of the new normal,” she said.

“Some may be able to spend a few pesos for WiFi for their school works such as research, but how about the others who do not have the means?” Poe added.

The senator asked the DepEd to submit a report on the status of connectivity of public schools to determine the areas in need of internet access.

She said the information will be crucial when she presents the proposed budget of the DICT in plenary.

“We believe telcos will always heed the challenge to do more for the worthwhile goal of inclusive, quality education,” Poe said.