SOME P2.5 billion has been released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to support the implementation of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP).

Of this amount, P2.4 billion will go to projects for free WiFi in public places, including government offices, public hospitals, plazas, and transport terminals, while the rest will be used to address the connectivity requirements of state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“This funding is crucial because the internet is central to our emerging new age—the digital era,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday.

”It is the backbone of our modern world. It connects us and makes everything more convenient, powering education, the economy, health care, public safety, and even government services.”