Santa Marcela, Apayao- Barangay Consuelo in Santa Marcela town will no longer worry about internet connectivity, as the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT-Apayao) has installed a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Roaming Kit (STARLINK) in the community on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Said barangay is one of the numerous recipients of the Free WiFi for All Program in Apayao Province. This free WiFi package includes one (1) Electronic Phased Array Antenna, one (1) Dual Band Wi-Fi Router, one (1) Power Supply, one (1) Power and Data Cables, one (1) Ethernet Adapter, and one (1) Outdoor Access Point.
The initiative is led by the DICT pursuant to RA 10929, otherwise known as the Free WiFi Access for Public Spaces Act, which aims primarily to provide internet connectivity, especially to remote barangays. The agency stated that this is also geared towards empowering and improving the lives of people from various communities through digital literacy.
Delighted with this project, Barangay Chairman Perfecto Domingo said it would tremendously contribute to a long-lasting impact on his constituents, as the residents undeniably needed internet access, especially the students. "This initiative given to our barangay will enable us to be transformed digitally, making us more updated with trends and current events," he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Mayor Evelyn Martinez of Santa Marcela LGU and Vice-Mayor Rolly Guiang expressed gratitude to DICT-CAR, Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, and Provincial Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. for this timely and helpful tool extended to Barangay Consuelo. For her, the free WiFi is more than the provision of free internet. She said that the free WiFi will also resolve network problems, enabling her constituents to develop more connections and fill the gap of digital illiteracy.
Mayor Martinez likewise reminds the public that using the Internet requires discernment and responsibility. She stressed that possessing excellent discipline while being exposed to the internet is essential to avoid serious problems.
.png)
