DICT installs free WiFi in Cam Norte
DAET, Camarines Norte --- A total of 16 free WiFi access and 28 Technology for Education, to gain Employment, train Entrepreneurs towards Economic Development (Tech4Ed) sites were installed in Camarines Norte, according to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
Ma. Peñafrancia Nepomuceno, DICT provincial team leader, in her discussion via Zoom for the radio program “Talakayan sa PIA” over DWCN-FM held recently, said that of the 16 free WiFi access, they have installed four in Covid-19 action sites, particularly in: Paracale Infirmary Hospital; Emergency Operation Center and Incident Management Team (IMT) offices at the Provincial Capitol in Daet; and Sanayang Pangkaligtasan, Isolation Facility in Mat-I, Vinzons last May this year.
Aside from the four already operating, the other 12 sites that were installed last 2017-2019 are located in the respective municipal plaza of Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Capalonga, and Basud with two WiFi access each while one in Sta. Elena; and also one at DICT’s field office in Daet.
The DICT is working this year for additional five WiFi sites particularly in Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) main and Abaño campuses, Daet Elevated Plaza, San Vicente Municipal Plaza, and Labo Sports Center.
She said that by next year they will focus on installing free WiFi access in public schools especially in areas where telephone companies are available.
On the other hand, the DICT has set up a total of 28 Tech4Ed including the two recently installed this year located at the Barangay Hall of Poblacion, Talisay and municipal building of San Vicente.
The other 26 Tech4Ed established in 2016-2019 are located in different areas where nine are in municipal libraries/ kiosks; six in barangay halls; five in schools; three located at the Provincial Capitol’s Library, Community E-Center and Person with Disability Knowledge and Resource Center; two at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Daet and Labo District Jails; and one at the DICT office.
The DICT is targeting 23 public schools for the Tech4Ed project to be launched this year following trainings conducted to respective school center manager.
Nepomuceno said that Tech4Ed is like an internet café where services are free particularly research, printing of materials, online studies among others.
The program caters to students and indigent sectors like the out-of-school youth, person with disabilities, and senior citizen, among others.
The Tech4Ed can be used also by employees doing work-from-home.
“It can be used offline whenever there is no internet connectivity because there are built in contents like learning English grammar, career engine, health among others”, Nepomuceno said.
She also announced that the DICT is now accepting applications for digital certificates under its program, Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) in all DICT provincial offices nationwide.
The PNPKI uses the concepts of cryptography and digital certificates to provide security mechanism for protecting data in transit like online communications and even at rest like data in storage.
Meanwhile, the DICT conducts digitaljobsPH technical trainings formerly called Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS), which aims to develop Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills of Filipinos in the countryside and increase their employability and participation in the digital economy.
Among the digitaljobsPH technical skills include: Digital Marketing and eCommerce; Search Engine Marketing and Advertising; Graphics Design and Online Tools; Content Writing; Website Development with WordPress; and Social Marketing and Adversiting.