DICT’s SimBayanihan connects 3,887 Kalinga students and teachers to free internet; More remote schools eyed

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Nearly 4,000 students and teachers across Kalinga have benefited from the Department of Information and Communications Technology's (DICT) Bayanihan SIM Card Distribution Program (SimBayanihan), providing free internet access to support digital learning, with the agency now eyeing additional beneficiary schools in far-flung communities.

The program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and telecommunications providers, aims to improve internet connectivity among learners and educators, particularly in geographically isolated and underserved areas.

During the Kapehan Meeting on June 22 at the New Conference Hall in Bulanao, DICT representative Lawrence Aquino reported that 3,887 students and teachers in Kalinga have already received internet-enabled SIM cards under the program.

Among the municipalities, Lubuagan recorded the highest number of beneficiaries, with 414 SIM cards distributed across three schools.

Aquino explained that each SIM card comes with 25 gigabytes of data every month, which automatically refreshes, allowing beneficiaries to access online educational resources without additional cost.

“...it has the capacity of 25 gigabytes of data, na pwedeng-pwede nga mausar for one month. So if 25GB for this month June, by July ket another 25 kasi ma-refresh diay data na,” Aquino said.

To ensure the SIM cards are used primarily for educational purposes, the program includes restrictions on adult-content websites and online shopping platforms.

“Eto pong SIM card ay may control and limit, especially sa mga adult content and sa mga shopping sites, para masiguro natin na yung SIM card ay magagamit lang for the purpose of education,” he added.

According to Aquino, the telecommunications network assigned to beneficiaries depends on the service provider with the strongest and most reliable signal in their respective areas to maximize internet connectivity.

While the program has already reached most municipalities in Kalinga, DICT continues to identify additional schools that may benefit from the initiative, particularly those located in remote communities where internet access remains limited.

“We already distributed almost all municipalities, except Pasil and Tinglayan—the schedule for the remaining two will be maybe the coming week of this month. Eto lang ang mga nabigyan na schools pero we're still trying to identify more, especially from far-flung areas of Kalinga, nga mabalin nga mangitedan diay extra SIM cards,” Aquino said.

Among the schools that have already received SIM cards are Amlao Elementary School and Lucog Elementary School in Tabuk City; Bagbag Elementary School, Bulbol Elementary School, Macutay Elementary School, and Macutay-Palao National High School in Rizal; Balbalan Elementary School and Balbalan National High School in Balbalan; Dangoy Elementary School, Dugnac Primary School, and Lubuagan Central School in Lubuagan; and Gaang Elementary School and Dacalan Elementary School in Tanudan.

Several schools in Pinukpuk also benefited from the program, including Cawagayan Elementary School, Cawagayan National High School, Pinukpuk Central School, Pinukpuk Vocational School, Socbot Elementary School, Socbot National High School, Tappo Elementary School, and Tappo Vocational School.

As DICT prepares to complete the distribution in Pasil and Tinglayan, the agency remains committed to expanding internet access and digital inclusion, ensuring that more students and teachers in remote parts of Kalinga can participate in technology-enabled learning and access educational opportunities online.