Free Wi-Fi budget in 2025 just enough for 5 months, says DICT

The P2.5-billion allocation for the Free Wi-Fi For All program in the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)’s P7.8-billion proposed 2025 budget is only enough to maintain it for five months, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said Thursday.

"The budget allocation of the free Wi-Fi program amounting to P2.5 billion can sustain the 13,462 free Wi-Fi live access point sites in public places covering subscriptions for a period of five months," Uy told the House appropriations panel during the deliberations on the DICT’s proposed budget for next year.

"Hence, to expand our reach and maintain existing sites, the DICT is in dire need of additional funding,” he told lawmakers.

“By funding our initiatives, we can ensure that the Philippines remains at the forefront of technological advancement, driving economic growth, and improving the quality of life of every Filipino.” 

House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon party-list lamented the minuscule budget for the program and asked if this meant there would be no free Wi-Fi in public sites the rest of 2025.

"It’s good for four to five months," Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy replied. "The P3.6 billion this year is enough so that we can maintain it until the end of the year, plus approximately a few more months, like two more months of 2025. Without the additional, putol po [we'll be disconnected].”

[But] because it is a law...we will try to find [ways],” he added.

Herrera then said if this would mean DICT’s billions of unpaid dues to telecommunication companies will increase.

Dy replied, “”Something like that, Your Honor.”

Herrera then called on her colleagues to support DICT’s call for additional funding, saying this would be in accordance with the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which says that the Free Public Internet Access Fund (FPIAF) under the management of the DICT "shall be funded out of the spectrum users' fees collected by the NTC and other sources to be identified by the Department of Budget and Management." — BM, GMA Integrated News