The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched a series of 2026 digital reforms on Wednesday aimed at delivering more affordable high-speed internet and migrating the national budget to a blockchain framework.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda told reporters at the Kapihan sa DICT that the initiative focuses on transparency and safety to ensure every Filipino feels the impact of a digital-first economy.
“Our goal is clear: cheaper internet, better service and more every Filipino feeling the benefits of digital transformation,” he said.
The agency is scaling up the Bayanihan SIM Project, a program designed to fast-track free Wi-Fi access in remote schools and underserved communities.
The program has provided connectivity to over 20,000 Department of Education beneficiaries across 70 schools and 103 Department of Social Welfare and Development 4Ps recipients.
By providing SIM cards loaded with 25GB of monthly data for a full year, the agency intends to help families access online education and essential government services.
Aguda said the project is about bridging the digital divide and that getting Filipinos online is the first step toward ensuring they reap the benefits of the digital space.
The DICT is also utilizing a blockchain framework called the Digital Bayanihan Chain to manage the 2026 national budget.
The system records every peso of taxpayer money in a permanent, tamper-proof digital ledger. The country has digitized the entire budget cycle, including congressional approval, disbursement, expenditure and reporting.
Aguda described the blockchain-powered General Appropriations Act as a digital guarantee of integrity that prevents manipulation and ensures long-term traceability of government funds. He noted that under this system, transparency is permanent.
To monitor service quality, the agency continues its Oplan Bantay Signal initiative, which allows citizens to report network quality. Since December 2025, users have submitted more than 558,000 speed tests to help identify areas of weak signal and congestion. This data allows the government to demand evidence-based infrastructure improvements from telecommunications companies.
Commuters in the capital are also seeing changes through the launch of free Wi-Fi at 17 EDSA Busway stations. As part of the ongoing EDSA Busway rehabilitation, the project provides internet speeds averaging 40 to 60 Mbps. The DICT said this connectivity supports safer journeys and enables the use of seamless cashless payment systems while in transit.
