SAN PEDRO, Laguna — A free Wi-Fi zone for 27 barangays has been formally launched in this city that aims to provide free internet access to all students who do not have internet connections in their homes, as well as small businesses and delivery riders.
According to San Pedro congressional candidate Dave Almarinez, the project took 10 months of preparation with its installation and so many challenges especially since the country is in a pandemic.
“This is just the beginning for San Pedro to become a smart city, for us to be connected with the entire world,” said Almarinez.
“I am happy to help our countrymen because we know that the internet is very important today for our young people, who study via online class. Even our delivery riders and small traders will benefit,” he added.
This is the first free Wi-Fi zone in the entire province of Laguna that is not government-funded and throughout San Pedro there are 37 km of fiber optic cable in place, with more satellites to be built in areas that cannot be equipped with fiber optic cabling, Almarinez said.
Users thanked Almarinez’s free Wi-Fi offering because it meets their internet access needs. According to one lady who used to load almost P1,000 monthly for their mobile data needs, it saves their budget and can be used for other needs of their family.
At a press conference with the Camp Vicente Lim Press Corps, Almarinez said: “Those are the things that are not easy to do but have been done. We are just serious in our advocacy to help all the people in the city of San Pedro.”
Almarinez also visited a vaccination site for children aged 5-11 years old, where he helped provide 10,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
He thanked Mayor Baby Cataquiz for accepting the project and making it successful and beneficial to the people.
Almarinez also thanked his wife, Hazel “Ara Mina” Almarinez, for her support and being always with him anytime to serve the people of San Pedro.