In Quezon, 202 families enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have received free data SIM cards aimed at improving their education and livelihoods. This initiative took place on Cagbalete Island in Mauban.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region IV-A announced that beneficiaries from Barangays Cagbalete I and II will receive SIM cards offering 25 gigabytes of mobile data each month as part of the Bayanihan SIM Project.
This initiative is designed to enhance educational opportunities for children and strengthen the families' communication and business activities.
The free mobile data will significantly aid my children’s schooling and our family business, improving communication and transactions.
Aila Nazareno, Beneficiary
Aila Nazareno, one of the beneficiaries, expressed the positive impact the connectivity would have on her small business and her children's education.
Cagbalete Island, accessible via a 45-minute boat ride from Mauban, is a well-known tourist spot. The DICT's Bayanihan SIM Project is part of a broader effort to ensure no Filipino is left offline, particularly in underserved areas.
The government aims to distribute up to one million free SIM cards nationwide to 4Ps beneficiaries residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
The 4Ps program, established under Republic Act No. 11310, provides conditional cash assistance to low-income families to enhance children's health, nutrition, and education.