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DICT eyes 1M SIM cards for students, teachers in remote areas by 2026
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is subsidizing internet connectivity of students and teachers in far-flung areas through the distribution of SIM cards with free data as it aims to bridge the digital gap in far-flung communities.
At a press chat in Quezon City on Thursday, DICT Undersecretary for Special Concerns Faye Condez-de Sagon said the agency has a budget of P3 billion for the rollout of the "Bayanihan SIM" initiative.
Under the program, the DICT is targeting to distribute about one million SIM cards, by at least early 2026, to students, teachers as well as non-teaching staff of schools located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).
"We are targeting to distribute about 600,000 SIM cards by the end of the year. The total number of SIM cards that would be distributed are 1,008,000 or about one million SIM cards by next year," Condez-de Sagon said.
"The expected number of beneficiaries is roughly five million Filipinos," the DICT official added, noting that one SIM card can benefit an entire family or household.
Each SIM card would be loaded with 25 gigabytes (GB) of data monthly for a period of one year.
"Automatic renewal every month from the time na ma-activate… 12 months bayad na ang subscription," she said.
(Automatic renewal every month from the time the SIM is activated... the subscription is already paid for a period of 12 months.)
"Technically pinrocure natin ang mga SIM card sa mga telcos, ang benta po nila sa atin is mas mura sa market price. Ang isang SIM card na may 25GB is approximately P300, nabenta po nila sa atin nang P250," she added.
(Technically, the government procured the SIM cards from telcos at lower than market prices. Each SIM card with 25GB sells for approximately P300, but were sold to the government for P250.)
Apart from free SIM cards with subsidized monthly data load, the DICT official said telecommunication companies have committed to build about a hundred common towers in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) sites where the SIMs would be distributed.
Condez-de Sagon said the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are the partner-agencies in charge of identifying the beneficiary-schools and GIDA areas for the distribution of the free SIM cards.
"For a following year, (so it may) continue, the government will have a budget again provided that rollout plan and the project is successful," she said.
For his part, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said mobile internet connectivity "would not be forever."
"Assumption is once they are connected… e-commerce will come in… After two years, when the economic activity in the place booms their internet connectivity would be self-sustaining. We're just starting them off with connectivity," Aguda said.
The "Bayanihan SIM" program was officially launched in Kalawakan Elementary School in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan—an identified GIDA site.
The ceremonial launch marked the distribution of Globe-powered TM SIMs, each loaded with 25GB of monthly open-access data, to 500 students, teachers, and parents.
For the coming days, the DICT is pilot-launching the project in Bani National High School Coto Annex, Masinloc, Zambales and San Nicolas Integrated School, General Luna, Quezon.
About 1,500 SIM cards would be distributed by the agency in the selected schools for the initial rollout of the program.
"Guided by the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure that no Filipino is left offline, this initiative goes beyond simply distributing SIM cards, it is a bold step toward closing the digital divide for millions of our countrymen," said Aguda.
The initiative is anchored on Republic Act 10929, or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, and aims to promote digital inclusion by enabling learning, livelihood, and access to essential government services in far-flung communities. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
