A total of 849 students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel in the remote village of Nalundan in Bindoy town now have access to 25 gigabytes (GB) of monthly reliable internet data through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)’s Bayanihan SIM cards.
DICT Assistant Secretary June Vincent Manuel Gaudan, with the DICT–Negros Island Region (NIR), led by Regional Director Ramil Jeff Taboso, distributed Bayanihan SIM cards to the residents of this barangay on January 30, according to reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PNA) Infocen Negros Oriental.
The primary recipients of the SIM cards are the students, faculty, and non-teaching staff of Nalundan Elementary School and the Demetrio L. Alviola National High School (DANHS)-Nalundan Extension Campus.
Each SIM card is pre-loaded with 25GB of data, which is automatically replenished every month.
Students can use the data allocation for their research assignments, while teachers can use it for communication and for the timely submission of their reports.
DLANHS-Nalundan student Julian Rhea Mae Gedorio thanked DICT for distributing the Bayanihan SIM cards, noting that the data allocation is more than enough for their study needs, adding that she would no longer have to go to a house with a “Piso WI-FI” machine just to get internet access.
“Dako kay kog pasalamat sa DICT nga nanghatag sila og libreng sim card then naa pod load every month. Dakong kaayong tabang ni namo labi na as a grade 12 student nga daghan galam-on,” Gedorio said. (I am very grateful to DICT for giving us free SIM cards with loads every month. This is a big help to us grade 12 students who have a lot of school work to accomplish.)
“Piso WI-FI” machines are vending machines that allow internet service to people for a limited time for a certain amount of money.
DLANHS–Nalundan Teacher–in-Charge June Mark Tenorio said the free internet that comes with the Bayanihan SIM card also makes internet surfing and research safer for students.
“Usually ang gigamit kon mag-research sila katong Piso WI-FI. Magreklamo ang mga ginikanan kay mauli alas diyes, alas onse sa gabie to think nga lagyo silang mga balay. Molakaw pa na sila og 30 minutes. Karon maabot naman sa ilahang balay ang signal. Naa sila free SIM cards nga naay 25 ka gigabyte (nga data). No need na sila mogawas. Safe na ang mga bata,” said Tenorio
Gaudan said the department aims to distribute 500,000 Bayanihan SIM cards nationwide in keeping with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise to provide internet connectivity to schools, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) throughout the country.
Brgy. Nalundan is an upland barangay located 18 kilometers away from the town proper of Bindoy.
“Isa yan sa mga utos ni Pangulong BBM (President Marcos’ directive is), we need to really focus on improving the education sector. By giving them internet connectivity, that’s an information gateway for them. You now have a wealth of data coming from the internet,” Gaudan said.
DICT has entered a service-level agreement with telecommunications company Smart, which will provide a 25GB monthly data allocation and ensure that internet speed is at 99 percent.
This was also made possible because of the existence of a telecommunications tower in the said village.
Gaudan said service providers are also required to build towers or cell sites in the area in order for these SIM cards to function.
Bayanihan SIM cards were also configured to block pornographic sites and illegal gambling sites so that it could only be used for educational purposes and safe internet surfing.
Meanwhile, Taboso said the department aims to distribute 13,000 Bayanihan SIM cards across the region.
“Kani first batch pa lang ni kani siya nga gi-deliver (na mga) 2,000 plus nga SIM card. Naa pa gud moabot pa. Ang gusto sa gobyerno tanan eskwelahan connected,” Taboso saod. (This is the first batch of the SIM cards that were delivered to us, which is 2,000 pieces. There are also more pieces coming here. The government really wants to make every school connected.)
The DICT – NIR earlier distributed 548 Bayanihan SIM Cards to Brgy. Luz Elementary School in Guihulngan City, which benefitted students and teachers from the said school and other nearby schools. | NWI
