The government’s push to give free Wi-Fi access across the Philippines is facing scrutiny after a proposal presented to the DICT was tagged as “grossly overpriced.”
Senator Loren Legarda raised concerns about a ₱150 million procurement proposal for the network-satellite service provider Starlink — a figure she found excessive given that only a simple subscription renewal was needed. She said the document did not have proper authorisation.
Responding to the matter, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda confirmed the proposal was unauthorised and overpriced, stressing it didn’t align with department orders. He noted that the agency’s internal audit team is examining the issue and has already forwarded findings to the Commission on Audit for further review.
This episode comes on the heels of longstanding concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the Free Wi-Fi for All program. The DICT previously acknowledged that its current rollout costs around ₱6.5 billion annually for more than 7,000 sites — prompting plans for a major overhaul.