These will benefit those living in far-flung areas.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is launching the new Bayanihan SIM project, which targets teachers and students living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
According to DICT Undersecretary Paul Joseph Mercado in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, June 4, around one million SIM cards will be distributed under the initiative.
“Ang layon po natin ay marami ang digital infrastructure which is iyong tower sa iba’t ibang lugar especially doon sa ating mga GIDA areas. Ang gagamitin po natin dito ay cell signal ‘no kasi towers po ang gagamitin natin,” said Mercado.
The department also partnered with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to implement the project aimed at providing connectivity to underserved areas in the country in the next three years.
“With that one million SIM cards, may subscription po. Ang uunahin po naming bigyan ay ang mga estudyante at guro kasi ang purpose po nito ay ang ating education,” Usec. Mercado added.
The SIM cards, with a 25GB monthly allocation, will be distributed free of charge to students and teachers to GIDA locations, which will be identified in coordination with the NEDA and posted on the DICT website.
The project will commence at the end of the second quarter to the third quarter of 2025, adding that the terms of reference (TOR) and the distribution guidelines were already finalized.
The initiative is also part of the government’s thrust to entice telcos to invest in remote areas of the country, Mercado furthered.