A new mobile site has been activated in San Vicente, Palawan, improving internet access for residents in geographically isolated and underserved communities in the province.
The initiative aims to bring more reliable mobile connectivity closer to Filipinos in last-mile areas, supporting broader efforts to expand digital access nationwide.
“By bringing fast and reliable mobile connectivity to towns like San Vicente in Palawan, we enable more Filipinos in underserved communities to access opportunities in education, livelihood, and innovation,” Menardo G. Jimenez, PLDT chief operating officer and network head, said.
“This milestone also highlights the power of strengthened collaboration with our government partners, so that together, we can deliver meaningful connectivity solutions that accelerate inclusive development,” added Jimenez, who is also PLDT’s representative to the Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).
The new tower is also expected to support the government’s Bayanihan SIM initiative, which provides free SIM cards with mobile data to Filipinos in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), including San Vicente, which is located around 500 kilometers southwest of Manila.
At Old Caruray Elementary School, Smart and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) distributed about 1,500 SIM cards with prepaid load to government-identified beneficiaries, including students. Under the program, recipients will receive 25GB of data per month for 12 months, fully subsidized by the government.
As part of the rollout, PLDT also turned over a School-in-a-Bag package through the PLDT-Smart Foundation to Old Caruray Elementary School, represented by principal Alma Dalipe. Each portable learning kit includes a laptop for the teacher, 10 tablets loaded with DepEd curriculum-based materials and interactive learning applications, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket Wi-Fi device, and expandable storage.
The tower launch was attended by Palawan Gov. Amy Roa Alvarez, Palawan 1st District Rep. Rosalie A. Salvame, San Vicente Mayor Ramir R. Pablico, and Barangay Chair Bernardo M. Borja, along with officials from the DICT, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and Department of Education, as well as PLDT Enterprise executives Ruby Montoya and Euan Toralballa.
The Bayanihan SIM program is part of the government’s push for nationwide digital connectivity and is enabled by the company’s mobile network, supported by its fiber infrastructure. Continued investment in integrated fixed and wireless systems forms part of broader efforts to enhance service delivery and expand connectivity across the country.