MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for cooperation among government, private sector, and local communities to address broadband access challenges in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) of the Philippines.

“Kumilos tayo na may isang hangarin: ang maghatid ng pag-asa, ng ginhawa, at pagkakataon sa bawat Pilipino,” Marcos said during the Philippine Telecommunications Summit 2026 in Pasay City.

The President noted that while urban centers enjoy high-speed and reliable internet, many rural and remote areas continue to face connectivity challenges, which limit access to education, constrain economic opportunities, and slow national progress. He cited delays in permits, right-of-way restrictions, fiber cuts, and power interruptions as factors widening the digital divide.

“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mahalaga ang ating pagtutulungan. Kailangang magkaisa ang pamahalaan, ang pribadong sektor, at mga lokal na pamayanan—sapagkat walang iisang sektor ang kayang harapin ang mga hamong ito,” Marcos emphasized.

The government, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has implemented reforms to make internet services faster and cheaper. These include the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which removed barriers that slowed progress and limited competition, and the Free Public Internet Access Program, which currently maintains over 9,500 Wi-Fi access points in 5,057 public locations.

Marcos also cited the Bayanihan SIM Card Project, which provided over 89,400 subsidized SIM cards with monthly data allocations to public school students, teachers, and indigent communities.

The President thanked private sector investors for their commitment to improving the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and local government units for cooperating to expand internet coverage nationwide.

“We look forward to greater connectivity and coverage, so that faster and more reliable communications will reach more lives and more will be touched by this technology,” he said.

Organized by the DICT, the Telecommunications Summit 2026 aims to secure stakeholders’ commitments and coordinate actions to improve ICT infrastructure, reduce internet costs, expand high-speed coverage, promote inclusive digital access, and enhance digital competitiveness and resilience.