Albay gov to equip schools in islands with free Wi-Fi

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

BACACAY, Albay --- Albay Governor Noel Rosal is planning to provide public schools in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) with free Wi-Fi to allow their teachers and students to do research works without facing difficulties in accessing for mobile data signal.

He said that once the project is realized the mentors will also find ease in sending their reports being required of them by the division office of the Department of Education (DepEd) which is situated in the province’s business/commercial district.

ALBAY Governor Rosal communes with a grade 7 PWD student of Cabasan National High School in Cagraray Island in Bacacay town during his check on the status of public school students and teachers in far-away areas in his province. (Rhaydz B. Barcia)

Rosal told Bicol Mail that he already met with the telecommunication firms to explore the possibility of establishing towers in far-flung municipalities, especially in the islands of Cagraray, Batan, Rapu-Rapu and San Miguel to make internet and telecommunication signals accessible.

He, however, lamented the policy of Globe and Smart telecommunication firms that discourages putting up of towers in areas that do not meet the private companies’ population requirement and number of business establishments.

The Cabasan National High School (CNHS) is the biggest public secondary school in Cagraray Island in Bacacay town with almost 1,000 population but devoid of such important telecommunication/internet services.

CNHS students and teachers are compelled to go to the mountains or to remote barangays to look for mobile data signals so that they can be able to conduct research and send reports to the division office of the Department of Education.

The governor also checked out the state of pupils and teachers in Cabasan Elementary School and Cawayan Elementary School few weeks after the opening of face-to-face classes.

Aside from free Wi-Fi services, the teachers also asked the governor to construct a covered court in their school for their outdoor activities.

Last month, Rosal visited the island of San Miguel in Tabaco City where they installed Wi-Fi in Barangay Sagurong.