The Marcos administration is targeting 38,829 active free public internet access points nationwide under the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), marking a 69 percent jump from the 22,916 target under the 2026 program.
The expansion forms part of a P53.1 billion proposed government-wide information and communications technology (ICT) and digitalization budget for 2027, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) receiving the largest agency share at P14.4 billion or 27.2 percent of the total ICT allocation.
At the center of this drive is the P5-billion Free Public Internet Access Program, which maintains its FY 2026 funding level while expanding coverage to 14,969 public locations across 1,634 localities.
The rollout focuses heavily on geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), remote barangays, public schools, healthcare facilities, and transport hubs. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted in his Budget Message that expanding reliable connectivity brings essential services, education, and healthcare closer to citizens regardless of location, while Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon noted that the initiative builds the digital foundation needed for data-driven governance and broad economic access.
Beyond direct internet expansion, the proposed budget significantly scales up funding for digital public infrastructure and online services.
Allocation for the eGovernment Program more than doubles to P3.23 billion to enable integrated platforms like eGovPH, while the National Government Data Center Infrastructure will receive P950 million, up 27 percent from 2026. The National Government Portal is also set to receive P312 million to consolidate frontline services into a unified single channel.
To support this digital backbone, funding for the National Broadband Program rises by 69.3 percent to P1.1 billion, alongside P2.16 billion earmarked for the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project. Additionally, P722 million is proposed for DICT’s ICT Capacity and Industry Ecosystem Development Program, which includes P143 million for workforce upskilling and P193 million for Digital Transformation Centers, to train Filipino workers in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity.