Free public Wi-Fi, Tech4ED program: Increases connectivity, transforms lives
By Mary May A. Abellon
Technology can become the wings that will allow the educational world to fly farther and faster than ever before. It offers vast opportunities and major breakthroughs in the field of human inventions and discoveries. It provides solutions to intricate human problems making it simpler, easier andthe fastest way.
Technology connects us to the different parts of the world, and unites us with other people and communities. This magnifies our strengths andweaknesses in every problem that comes in our way.
With the advancement of technology, Wi-Fi internet access becomes a must in this digital world. People could easily access to devices like computers and cellphones with the use of Wi-Fi.
Wireless networking technology
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet andnetwork connections. It is used for different purposes such as data transmission and wireless communication which is faster and more consistent internet access.
This technology makes all connections seamless where it connects devices to the internet such as laptops, cellular phones, printers, thermostats, light bulbs, home security, monitoring and control systems, appliances and automotive products making lives better.
The Wi-Fi network allows access from anywhere in the building like when an employeemay take his laptop from an office to the conference room without losing network connectivity.
Free Wi-Fi internet access
The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte is a recipient of the “Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places,” a project of the national government through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) which will be installed this year.
This project is implemented across the Philippines to accelerate economic, social and educational opportunities with a budget of over a billion pesos.
It aims to reduce the growing “digital divide” under the overarching e-Filipino Program of the government, thereby improving the delivery of critical function of government services and providing efficient and effective ICT infrastructure and information systems to the public.
“This Wi-Fi connectivity will be installed in public places that are open and accessible to the general public such as schools, libraries, parks, plazas, in local and national government offices, barangay centers and gymnasiums,” ICTO Team Leader Samuel M. Montallana said in an interview.
He added that 3rd to 6th class municipalities will benefit from this project. In Zamboanga del Norte, there are 18 municipalities who are beneficiaries of this project, namely: La Libertad, Labason, Liloy, Manukan, Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Roxas, Rizal, Salug, Sibutad, Sirawai, Tampilisan, Jose Dalman, Baliguian, Godod, Bacungan and Kalawit.
Moreover, he stressed that the LGUs are tasked on the maintenance and security of the Wi-Fi routers.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Information Officer Roberto N. Pinsoy said that this project will empower the people in rural areas through connectivity.
“They will be connected for educational and employment purposes. They can even communicate with their loved ones who are in other places, they can access public services available online, students can do their research, the out-of-school youth (OSY) can enroll and study in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education (DepEd) and even in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),” he added.
According to him, this project will also benefit those who are in trade and commerce and in agriculture through Tech4ED program of ICTO.
Tech4ED program
“This is not just an ordinary Wi-Fi project but it has a program called Tech4Ed. Tech4ED is an anchor of the free Wi-Fi connectivity project of ICTO where the different services of the government could be accessed,” Pinsoy emphasized.
Through this program, it enables people to upgrade their digital literacy, increase their knowledge and skills set for employment, access health professionals for proper healthcare, start source of livelihood, to become entrepreneurs, to open markets outside their communities, create agri-tourist destinations and to contribute to economic growth.
He explained that the role of the provincial government is to provide and establish Tech4ED centers. Local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to establish their own Tech4ED centers because they will now have Wi-fi connectivity.
For the part of the government,this will enable them to provide women and homemakers new prospects for income generation and social advancement towards gender equality and to initiate capability build-up in rural communities through skills-matched trainings.
This will deliver equal and direct government services to all, especially in rural areas.
“The use of free Wi-Fi as provided by the government would be meaningless without this program because people may only use it for chatting and browsing in facebook, twitter and other forms of social media,”Mr.Pinsoy stressed.
With this project, the goal of the national government to bring the nation especially the countryside into the mainstream of inclusive growth and development throughout the Philippine archipelago would be realized.
By Mary May A. Abellon
Technology can become the wings that will allow the educational world to fly farther and faster than ever before. It offers vast opportunities and major breakthroughs in the field of human inventions and discoveries. It provides solutions to intricate human problems making it simpler, easier andthe fastest way.
Technology connects us to the different parts of the world, and unites us with other people and communities. This magnifies our strengths andweaknesses in every problem that comes in our way.
With the advancement of technology, Wi-Fi internet access becomes a must in this digital world. People could easily access to devices like computers and cellphones with the use of Wi-Fi.
Wireless networking technology
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet andnetwork connections. It is used for different purposes such as data transmission and wireless communication which is faster and more consistent internet access.
This technology makes all connections seamless where it connects devices to the internet such as laptops, cellular phones, printers, thermostats, light bulbs, home security, monitoring and control systems, appliances and automotive products making lives better.
The Wi-Fi network allows access from anywhere in the building like when an employeemay take his laptop from an office to the conference room without losing network connectivity.
Free Wi-Fi internet access
The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte is a recipient of the “Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places,” a project of the national government through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) which will be installed this year.
This project is implemented across the Philippines to accelerate economic, social and educational opportunities with a budget of over a billion pesos.
It aims to reduce the growing “digital divide” under the overarching e-Filipino Program of the government, thereby improving the delivery of critical function of government services and providing efficient and effective ICT infrastructure and information systems to the public.
“This Wi-Fi connectivity will be installed in public places that are open and accessible to the general public such as schools, libraries, parks, plazas, in local and national government offices, barangay centers and gymnasiums,” ICTO Team Leader Samuel M. Montallana said in an interview.
He added that 3rd to 6th class municipalities will benefit from this project. In Zamboanga del Norte, there are 18 municipalities who are beneficiaries of this project, namely: La Libertad, Labason, Liloy, Manukan, Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Roxas, Rizal, Salug, Sibutad, Sirawai, Tampilisan, Jose Dalman, Baliguian, Godod, Bacungan and Kalawit.
Moreover, he stressed that the LGUs are tasked on the maintenance and security of the Wi-Fi routers.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Information Officer Roberto N. Pinsoy said that this project will empower the people in rural areas through connectivity.
“They will be connected for educational and employment purposes. They can even communicate with their loved ones who are in other places, they can access public services available online, students can do their research, the out-of-school youth (OSY) can enroll and study in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education (DepEd) and even in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),” he added.
According to him, this project will also benefit those who are in trade and commerce and in agriculture through Tech4ED program of ICTO.
Tech4ED program
“This is not just an ordinary Wi-Fi project but it has a program called Tech4Ed. Tech4ED is an anchor of the free Wi-Fi connectivity project of ICTO where the different services of the government could be accessed,” Pinsoy emphasized.
Through this program, it enables people to upgrade their digital literacy, increase their knowledge and skills set for employment, access health professionals for proper healthcare, start source of livelihood, to become entrepreneurs, to open markets outside their communities, create agri-tourist destinations and to contribute to economic growth.
He explained that the role of the provincial government is to provide and establish Tech4ED centers. Local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to establish their own Tech4ED centers because they will now have Wi-fi connectivity.
For the part of the government,this will enable them to provide women and homemakers new prospects for income generation and social advancement towards gender equality and to initiate capability build-up in rural communities through skills-matched trainings.
This will deliver equal and direct government services to all, especially in rural areas.
“The use of free Wi-Fi as provided by the government would be meaningless without this program because people may only use it for chatting and browsing in facebook, twitter and other forms of social media,”Mr.Pinsoy stressed.
With this project, the goal of the national government to bring the nation especially the countryside into the mainstream of inclusive growth and development throughout the Philippine archipelago would be realized.