DICT to distribute 22K ‘Bayanihan SIMs’

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Information and Communications Technology in Bicol (DICT-5) will distribute more than 22,000 Bayanihan SIM cards to students and schools in eight primary schools across the region as the 2026-2027 school year begins.

In a Kapihan forum on Monday, DICT-5 officer-in-charge and regional director Christian Roy Melad said the distribution will commence next week.

“For the Bayanihan SIM card distribution scheduled next week, we will be distributing 2,780 SIM cards per primary school, for a total of 22,240 SIM cards,” he said.

The SIM cards will be distributed at Segundina Rivera Elementary School in San Pascual and Lahong Elementary School in Baleno, both in Masbate; Tanag Elementary School in Libmanan, Camarines Sur; and Bololo Elementary School in Guinobatan, Albay.

Also benefiting from the program are the Bulala Elementary School and San Pedro Elementary School in Panganiban, both in Camarines Norte; and Bagacay Elementary School in Gubat and Tinanogan Elementary School in Donsol, both in Sorsogon.

Melad said the additional 22,000 SIM cards form part of the latest phase of the program.

“For Phase 1, DICT-5 was able to accomplish 100 percent distribution, or 36,140 SIM cards, to 63 schools in underserved areas, particularly those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged locations,” he said.

He added that the initiative has expanded access to education, learning resources, emergency services, and digital opportunities.

SIM card beneficiaries were identified through coordination with various national government agencies.

“We depend on the list of areas given to us and validate whether the signal in those areas is adequate. It is not the DICT that directly determines the beneficiaries,” Melad said.

Engineer Odine Raphael Areola, DICT focal person for the Free WiFi project, said that in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to the DICT Secretary, more than 3,000 Free WiFi locations, with nearly 10,000 internet sites, will be installed in Bicol by 2026, with public schools as a priority.

“With the additional WiFi sites, more than 70 percent of public schools in the region will be WiFi-connected, along with other public places, including government and educational institutions, rural health units and tourist destinations,” he said. (PNA)