PBBM Pushes Unified Internet Drive—but Gaps Persist in Mindanao’s Most Isolated Provinces

MANILA (February 6)  — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for unified action to expand internet access to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) highlights a long-standing reality in Mindanao: while policies are in place, millions remain digitally disconnected—and the cost is felt daily in classrooms, farms, clinics, and barangay halls.

Speaking at the Philippine Telecommunications Summit 2026, Marcos framed connectivity as a gateway to opportunity, urging government, telecom companies, and local governments to act in unison.

Yet in provinces such as Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, and Davao Oriental, internet access remains unreliable or absent—underscoring the gap between national commitments and local experience.

Education, Livelihood, and Safety at Stake

In upland barangays of Bukidnon, many public school students still depend on printed modules or travel to town centers to access a signal, limiting their ability to keep pace with digital learning. In coastal communities of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, fisherfolk lack access to real-time weather alerts and market prices, increasing both economic risk and vulnerability to disasters.

In parts of BARMM, weak connectivity also affects governance itself—delaying digital civil registration, health referrals, and emergency coordination in conflict-affected and geographically isolated communities.

President Marcos acknowledged that permit delays, right-of-way issues, fiber cuts, and unstable power supply continue to slow network rollout—problems that are magnified in provinces with difficult terrain and limited local resources.

“Walang iisang sektor ang kayang harapin ang mga hamong ito,” Marcos said, stressing the need for shared responsibility.

Reforms vs. Reality on the Ground

The administration has pointed to reforms led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), particularly the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which removed regulatory barriers that previously discouraged telecom expansion.

However, analysts note that policy reform alone does not guarantee last-mile connectivity, especially in Mindanao provinces where:

• LGU capacity to process permits varies widely
• security concerns raise deployment costs
• power interruptions disrupt service reliability

While the Free Public Internet Access Program has established over 9,500 Wi-Fi sites nationwide, local officials in Caraga and BARMM have noted that coverage is often limited to municipal centers, leaving interior barangays still offline.

Similarly, the Bayanihan SIM Card Project, which distributed over 89,400 subsidized SIM cards, offers short-term relief but does not fully address the lack of stable network infrastructure needed for sustained access.

LGUs Hold the Key—but Also the Bottleneck

Marcos thanked local governments for their cooperation, but Mindanao’s experience shows that LGUs are both critical enablers and frequent choke points. Provinces that streamlined permits—such as parts of Davao Region—have seen faster tower deployment, while others remain stalled by local fees, zoning disputes, or political hesitation.

For isolated provinces, experts warn that without stronger national-local coordination, internet expansion risks reinforcing inequality—improving service in already connected towns while leaving hinterland communities behind.

Connectivity as a Test of Inclusive Growth

The Telecommunications Summit 2026 aims to secure commitments to reduce costs, expand high-speed coverage, and promote inclusive access. For Mindanao, these goals are not abstract benchmarks but immediate needs tied to education recovery, economic resilience, and disaster preparedness.

As Marcos put it, “Mas maraming buhay ang maaabot ng teknolohiyang ito.”

For communities in Maguindanao, Lanao, Caraga, and eastern Mindanao, the real test will be whether that promise finally reaches beyond city centers—and into the barangays that have waited longest for a signal.