PBBM’s Bayanihan SIM initiative powers dreams in Bicol Region

By Keren Anne Bernadas

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) --- For Teresa Quintana, a mother of three grade school pupils at Balinad Elementary School in Daraga, Albay, one of the greatest challenges in supporting her children’s education has always been limited internet access.

Whenever school assignments or projects require online research, her family struggles because they cannot afford a regular internet connection, while the mobile signals in their community remain weak and unreliable.

That reality is now beginning to change through the Bayanihan SIM Digital Education Initiative, a flagship digital connectivity program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) implemented under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

On Wednesday, the DICT distributed Bayanihan SIM cards to all grade school pupils and their parents at Balinad Elementary School.

Under the program, each student beneficiary receives a SIM card with 25 gigabytes of mobile data every month for one year. The free connectivity enables students to access online learning materials, conduct research, complete assignments, communicate with teachers, and maximize digital educational resources beyond the classroom.

According to DICT Bicol Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Christian Roy Melad, the initiative supports the administration’s goal of expanding reliable internet access across the country, ensuring that geography and poor connectivity no longer prevent students from receiving quality education.

As of the latest distribution, 55,053 Bayanihan SIM cards have been distributed across the region.

Of this number, 36,140 were distributed in served locations, while 18,913 reached students in underserved communities. DICT Region V is set to distribute the remaining 3,327 SIM cards in Ragay, Camarines Sur, and Masbate, further expanding the program’s reach to more learners.

Melad said that the government prioritized schools in unserved and underserved communities where internet connectivity remains limited and access to digital government services is minimal.

For parents like Quintana, the program offers much-needed support in helping their children keep up with school requirements while easing the financial burden of maintaining internet access.

She expressed her gratitude to President Marcos and the DICT, saying the free connectivity would allow her children to complete school requirements more easily despite the challenges of living in an area with unreliable internet service.

“We are very grateful to President Marcos and the DICT for the SIM cards we received,” she said in Filipino.

“Makakatulong po ito para sa assignments at projects ng mga bata. Di na rin po kami mahihirapan magpa-load para may pang-data,” she said.

(These will help our children with their school assignments and projects. We also won’t have to worry as much about spending money on mobile data anymore.)

Teachers also viewed the initiative as a valuable tool for enhancing classroom instruction.

With students able to access online educational resources at home, educators can integrate more digital learning activities into their lessons while encouraging independent research and collaborative learning.

School head Gina Miravalles said she was grateful that Balinad Elementary School was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the project.

“I would like to thank our President, President Bongbong Marcos. This initiative is a great help to our teachers, our students, and most especially to our community because it promotes inclusive and connected education for everyone,” she said.

Miravalles added that the digital transformation empowers learners with the connectivity they need to “pursue their education, develop essential digital skills, and build a brighter future.” (PIA Bicol)