Iloilo City Hall now lets you swap plastic bottles for free Wi-Fi

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

City Hall visitors in Iloilo City can now trade recyclable bottles for free internet access after the local government unveiled a new eco-tech vending machine.

The Iloilo City Government on Monday, June 22, launched its Eco-nnect Bottle-to-WiFi vendo machine at the City Hall entrance.

The initiative allows employees and clients to deposit a recyclable PET bottle into the machine in exchange for 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi access.

City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the program aims to reduce plastic waste while providing a practical digital service to the public.

She said the project reflects the city’s dual commitment to environmental protection and digital inclusion.

“We encourage that instead of throwing your PET bottles, bring them because there is a facility where you can use it to access free Wi-Fi,” Treñas-Chu said.

The mayor described the unit at City Hall as a prototype, adding that similar machines are expected to be deployed in other strategic locations across the city.

She also said the city is exploring the possibility of expanding the exchange program to include provisions such as food for cats and other animals.

The machine was developed by the Data Assessment and System Management Office (DASMO) and fabricated by the City General Services Office.

“While this launch marks our crucial initial step, we are just getting started. [We will] upscale this project to more strategic areas across the city, making this sustainable solution accessible to all,” DASMO said in a statement.