A consolidated bill seeking to establish technology hubs in every province has been approved by the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, advancing a proposal aimed at closing the country’s digital divide and expanding nationwide connectivity.
The committee underscored the need to strengthen digital infrastructure across the country, especially in areas where internet access remains limited, unstable, or unavailable.
Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Villarica, author of House Bill No. 2429 or the proposed “Online Philippines Act,” said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weakness of the country’s broadband network, with many Filipinos struggling with poor, intermittent, and unreliable internet connections.
She said the problem was more severe in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), where many communities remained offline and unable to fully access online education, digital services, business opportunities, and government programs.
Camarines Sur Rep. Miguel Luis Villafuerte, chair of the committee, supported the proposal, saying technology and internet connectivity have become essential to the daily lives of Filipinos.
He said the measure would help expand the country’s digital infrastructure, strengthen connectivity, create more opportunities, and prepare provinces for the demands of an increasingly digital economy.
Under HB 2429, information and communications technology hubs will be established in every province in line with the National ICT Plan to be formulated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The plan will include an assessment of each province to determine its specific digital needs and identify the appropriate type and number of ICT hubs to be built.
The bill mandates the establishment of at least one ICT hub per province, which will form part of a digital network infrastructure linked to other local ICT hubs through the DICT’s National Broadband Program.
During the committee deliberation, Bataan Rep. Antonino Roman III suggested clustering provincial ICT hubs with related support hubs in nearby areas or among neighboring provinces to make funding and implementation more feasible.
The substitute bill, with House Bill No. 661 as the principal measure, was approved by the committee subject to style and amendments, including possible provisions from the Committee on Ways and Means relating to incentives.