The Department of Information and Communications Technology in the Cordillera Administrative Region has localized the implementation of the nationwide Bayanihan SIM Project to aggressively support underserved communities and expand access to digital learning.
In a recent press conference, the agency fast-tracked the ongoing rollout of the project earlier this year, targeting public high school learners, teaching and non-teaching personnel, and vulnerable families registered under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Under the program, each beneficiary will receive a 25GB free data allocation monthly, which replenishes on the first day of each month for a 12-month duration.
According to DICT-CAR, the region has been given a target allocation of 41,700 SIM cards from its central office with 13,900 cards to Benguet; 8,340 each to Apayao and Kalinga; 5,560 to Abra; and 2,780 each to Ifugao and Mountain Province.
To ensure the technology will not be misused or abused, the SIM cards are geo-fenced or region-locked, preventing the use of the 25GB free data outside Cordillera.
While the project offers vital support for hybrid education, DICT-CAR officials noted a systemic structural challenge: students cannot use a subsidized SIM card where there is no cellular signal.
Data from the National Telecommunications Commission indicates that constructing cell towers in these sparsely populated areas offers a low return on investment for service providers as modern transmitters require a direct line of sight to receive and transmit signals.
Addressing security and hacking fears during an interview, DICT-CAR Regional Director Jimmicio Daoaten dismissed concerns by emphasizing the involvement of major telecommunication firms.
“The SIM really is provided by a legitimate supplier like Smart and Globe. And so, all other measures that ensures the legitimacy as well as security is already been in the system itself,” Daoaten said. “And if ever that there will be hacking or whatever, again, our provider is required to do something.” Sean Kimrhed Lardizabal/UC Intern
