CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — For schools in remote parts of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, internet access is no longer out of reach

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Northern Mindanao has begun distributing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to 30 public schools under the Bayanihan SIM Project, providing free mobile data to support teaching and learning.  

The project aligns with the government’s efforts to expand internet access to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) under the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act (Republic Act No. 10929).  

Implementation is done through the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP) by distributing SIM cards with subsidized mobile data, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that no Filipino is left offline.  

DICT Regional Director Sittie Rahma Alawi said the project is being undertaken by partner agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units (LGUs).  

“The Bayanihan SIM initiative ensures that learners and underserved communities gain access to essential digital services—from online education to health platforms and emergency communications. This is DICT’s commitment to empowering every Filipino with the connectivity they need to participate in the digital age,” Alawi said.  

The Bayanihan SIM Project supports blended learning, access to online academic resources, and communication among schools, learners, parents, and small business owners who rely on internet connectivity.  

For the first tranche, DICT is distributing 22,240 SIM cards in Bukidnon and 5,560 in Lanao del Norte. The beneficiaries include 30 schools—24 in Bukidnon and six in Lanao del Norte. Each school received SIM cards with subsidized mobile data to help address connectivity gaps and enable access to digital learning platforms and online educational resources.  

Teachers and students said the project helps address daily challenges caused by limited or unreliable internet access.  

“Dako ni ikatabang sa mga estudyante. Magamit ni nila sa ilang adlaw-adlaw nga buluhaton sama sa project, homework, ug research. Makatabang gyud kini sa ilang pag-eskwela,” said Chrestilie Joaquin, a Grade 5 teacher at Lingion Elementary School in Talakag, Bukidnon.  

(This will be of great help to the students. They can use it for their daily activities, such as projects, homework, and research. It will really help in their studies.)  

Allen John Blanco, a student from Indulang Integrated School in Talakag, said the SIM cards address students’ need for mobile data for schoolwork.  

“This SIM is very important to us because, as students, we often need data for our research, assignments, and other school-related projects,” Blanco said. (JAKA/PIA-10)