Connecting Barangay Diwan: Free Internet Empowers Students and Communities
Recognizing the need to deliver critical eGovernment services and learning opportunities to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, unconnected.org, through its member-partner Easyelectronyx, with the support of the DICT Regional Office IX and BASULTA, activated a community network in Barangay Diwan Integrated School, Dipolog City in Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao to provide the school free Internet, as well as making available connectivity in the surrounding area.
The satellite-based community network, facilitated by a cooperative in partnership with a local ISP, provides free access to boost learning opportunities for students, and affordable Internet for other users in the subject rural area.
Meanwhile, the DICT will spearhead a series of digital literacy and cybersecurity training as part of the initiative’s capacity building activities to better equip community leaders and members with digital skills.
The project is undertaken with support from Internet Society Foundation, and through Digital Bayanihan. It seeks to bridge the digital divide in the area, which faces notable challenges in commercial telecommunications coverage.
Plans to expand the connectivity access to the nearby barangay rural health unit and local farmers cooperative are also in the pipeline to ensure that no Filipino is left offline.
