Manila: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Globe Telecom have distributed more than 400,000 Bayanihan SIM cards to public school students, teachers, and eligible Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households as part of efforts to bridge the country's digital divide.
According to Philippines News Agency, Globe president and chief executive officer Carl Cruz stated that of the 500,400 Bayanihan SIMs delivered by Globe to the DICT for nationwide distribution, more than 400,000 have already reached beneficiaries in at least 1,200 public schools nationwide. Cruz emphasized the essential role of connectivity in learning, communication, and accessing opportunities.
"Through the Bayanihan SIM Project, we are proud to stand alongside the DICT in helping make digital access more inclusive so that more Filipinos, wherever they are, can benefit from the opportunities that connectivity creates," Cruz said.
The initiative primarily targets geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, including remote communities in Bulacan, Palawan, Lanao del Sur, and South Cotabato. The rollout initially commenced in the upland community of Do±a Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, before expanding to other underserved communities in these provinces.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development identified the 4Ps household beneficiaries. Each Bayanihan SIM card provides 25 GB of monthly mobile data, enabling beneficiaries to access educational platforms, digital government services, communication tools, eWallets, and other essential online resources.
