President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday pledged to improve internet access in Eastern Visayas, especially in remote areas, as part of ongoing government efforts to widen reliable connectivity in the region.
Marcos told a Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting last March 14 that the government has developed a new system to enhance internet access in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged
Areas (GIDAs).
“I took note of the issues on the internet. We have decided on the system that we are going to use for the internet, to distribute to the GIDAs internet service,” he said in Tacloban City. “As long as there is a GIDA that is not too far from fiber optic, it can be installed.”
The Chief Executive discussed plans to establish facilities that can help expand internet services to remote communities and adopt emerging technologies that can support such measures.
“We will put a tower, let’s say a regular tower. But there are new technologies that are available that we can take advantage of, or can provide internet service even though it is quite far from fiber optic in the islands that already have satellites,” he added.
The President said that internet service would be different in many ways. New technologies, he said, will be maximized to improve connectivity, especially in the far-flung areas.
Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan lauded the President’s initiative as improved connectivity would significantly benefit the education sector, particularly in the GIDA communities in her province.
“We really want and we really pray that our GIDA areas will have internet connection,” Tan said during the meeting.
In addition to internet connectivity, the council discussed other regional concerns with President Marcos, including water and electricity supply, infrastructure, and health services.
The President assured the council of his administration’s continued efforts to improve the living conditions of residents in Eastern Visayas.