Free public Wi-Fi bill passed

The Senate and the House of Representatives have approved proposed measures during the  second and third and final readings, respectively, on allowing citizens to access free Wi-Fi in public places nationwide.

Senate Bill 2686 will create a new executive department, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), that will establish free internet services in public schools, parks, libraries, national and local government offices, public hospitals and rural health units, airports, seaports, and LRT-MRT stations. The bill is believed to be a step forward in advancing the Philippines into the age of computers and modern technology.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, sponsor of Senate Bill 2686, is confident the bill will not entail additional heavy taxes on taxpayers as there would be no need to build regional offices and hire new employees as the it would contradict the bill’s goal of e-governance.

Information and communications technology is the third top utility, next to power and water, and is the third biggest source of income, after electronics and overseas Filipino workers remittances.

In Congress, House Bill 5791 or the proposed Free Public Wi-Fi Act was approved and defended in plenary by the committee on information and communications technology.

Banner photo from philippinecybercorridor.wordpress.com.