Marcos pledges internet for all public schools by year-end

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Monday during his fourth State of the Nation Address that all public schools without internet access will be connected by year-end.

The President cited progress in the National Fiber Backbone project and expansion of free Wi-Fi sites, noting an increase from 4,000 to nearly 19,000 free Wi-Fi locations across the country since June 2022.

He also highlighted the distribution of over one million free SIM cards with data to schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), emphasizing improvements in internet infrastructure for these regions.

Marcos encouraged Filipinos to download the eGovPH mobile app, which offers access to various government services such as driver's license renewal and job-seeking biodata creation.

The app currently provides over 40 local and national government online services, with plans to soon include additional features like NBI clearance requests and BIR eTIN applications.