For years, students in some of the country’s most remote island communities faced a challenge that many take for granted: access to the internet. Limited connectivity meant restricted access to digital learning materials, fewer opportunities for online collaboration, and barriers to participating fully in an increasingly digital world.
Recognizing that internet access is now essential to education, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to work closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that schools across the country are connected and that no learner is left behind in the digital age.
That commitment came to life on May 21, 2026, when more than 1,000 students, teachers, and school personnel from the Badjao Floating Integrated School in Barangay Tampalan, Malamawi Island, Isabela City, Basilan were brought online through DICT Free Wi-Fi and Starlink connectivity, enabling a live virtual meeting that linked three locations across the country.
At Binuangan Elementary School in Obando, Bulacan, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, led the Brigada Eskwela and Connectivity Validation activities. They were connected live to DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda at the Badjao Floating Integrated School in Basilan, while teachers and students from Mariki Elementary School in Zamboanga City also joined the virtual interaction.
The exchange linked two island schools located at opposite ends of the country, one in Luzon and the other in Mindanao, demonstrating how connectivity can bridge geographic barriers and bring government services, opportunities, and learning closer to every Filipino community.
During the event, President Marcos asked Secretary Aguda about the connectivity situation in Basilan and the status of connecting DepEd schools in the country.
Secretary Aguda reported that the Basilan activity marked a significant milestone: all DepEd schools in the province are now connected to the internet. He added that nationwide, approximately 95% of the country’s nearly 40,000 DepEd schools have already been connected, advancing the administration’s goal of expanding digital access for every learner.
“Connectivity is no longer a luxury for education; it is a necessity,” Secretary Aguda said. “When schools are connected, students gain access to learning resources beyond the classroom, teachers gain new tools for instruction, and communities gain opportunities that were previously out of reach.”
To support the connectivity needs of Badjao Floating Integrated School, the DICT installed two Starlink units, with two more units planned to increase bandwidth capacity further. The school was also equipped with solar panels and high-capacity batteries to ensure uninterrupted internet access even during power outages.
But beyond the infrastructure, the most powerful impact was felt by the students and teachers themselves. As the virtual conversation unfolded, participants from Basilan and Bulacan exchanged stories and experiences in real time, something that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago.
One teacher from Badjao Floating Integrated School remarked to a counterpart in Binuangan Elementary School: “The connection was so fast and seamless, it felt like we were talking face to face despite being miles away from each other.”
For many students, the online meeting was proof that their island community is no longer isolated from opportunities available elsewhere in the country.
The successful connection between the two schools was made possible through the DICT’s Free Wi-Fi for All Program, which provides free internet access in public spaces including schools, hospitals, transport hubs, government offices, and other community centers nationwide.
As the government continues to expand connectivity across the country, the virtual meeting between students in Basilan and Bulacan stands as a powerful reminder that when communities are connected, distance becomes less of a barrier, and no Filipino learner is left offline.
About the Author
