The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday it approved the release of an additional P3.68 billion in funding to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to sustain the implementation of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP) nationwide.
“Our free Wi-Fi program continues. By approving this additional budget within our calibrated fiscal program, we reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing inclusive and accessible internet for all,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“As mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we will ensure that every citizen, in any corner of the Philippines, will benefit from our digital transformation initiatives,” she said.
The released fund is expected to benefit 13,462 access point (AP) sites in various locations nationwide.
Part of the FPIAP is the building and maintaining of ICT infrastructure such as towers, data centers and internet connections. It aims to maintain connectivity in public areas like schools, libraries, parks and transportation hubs, providing Filipinos with reliable internet services for education, work and daily life activities.
The additional fund is chargeable against the Special Account in the General Fund-Free Public Internet Access Fund (SAGF-FPIAF) for fiscal year 2024. This is on top of the P2.5 billion already allocated for the FPIAF which is expected to be fully obligated this month.
Meanwhile, the DBM said that starting 2025, government employees, including public school teachers, would receive medical allowance of P7,000.
Apart from the salary increase and medical allowance for teachers, other benefits intended for the country’s educators would get allocations in the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
These include the teaching allowance, compensation for teaching overload, special hardship allowance and World Teachers’ Day incentive.
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