Free WiFi services in city schools mulled

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Iloilo City government is eyeing to establish free WiFi services in all the schools in the city to train and level up the skills of students.

Mayor Jerry Treñas announced this on Thursday following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city government and Globe for the installation of free WiFi services in City Proper district.

Treñas said he is set to issue a memorandum in order to identify the schools in the city who lack access to WiFi.

 

“We want to make sure ang mga schools may WiFi kag ginpadagdagan ko memorandum ang eskwelahan para malantaw naton kung sin-o ang mga eskwelahan ang may wala Wi-Fi kay maprovide kita WiFi,” he said in an interview on Thursday.

 

On Thursday, Treñas and Executive Assistant Francis Cruz signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Globe WiFi Business Group Director Janis Racpan; Globe Business Visayas Industry Head Paulette Villaflor and VisMin Cluster Head Carlo Ortiz on Thursday to establish free WiFi services in the selected areas in the city.

Following the partnership between Globe and the city government, free WiFi services will be available in the City Hall, Sunburst Park and Freedom Grandstand by early next year.

“This partnership with Iloilo City is a huge step for us at GoWiFi in reaching and connecting more customers. By providing free, high quality connectivity to constituents, we aim to be of significant help in the city’s continuous growth as an economic center in the Western Visayas region,” Racpan said.

As Iloilo City positions itself to become a smart city, Cruz said the free WiFi services will boost the city’s connectivity which is one vital factor of smart cities.

“One of the basic foundations of a smart city is the infrastructure including connectivity and this is one area nga ginatulok namon na some of our commercial service providers would be able to provide for our constituents, to make it easier for them para sa services sang local government,” he said.

He added that the city government is planning to launch an online payment scheme for faster transactions by next year.

Currently, free Globe GoWifi is available in Iloilo International Airport; West Visayas State University Medical Center, Medicus Medical Center, The Medical City and Qualimed Hospital; STI College of Iloilo and Iloilo Riverplains Integrated School in Brgy. Lanit in Jaro district; The Shops at Atria, Gaisano Capital, SM City, Festive Walk mall and Festive Walk Parade, Robinsons Place malls in City Proper, Jaro and Pavia, Marymart Center and select Starbucks branches.