Expanded Bayanihan SIM project eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) is pushing for the expansion of the Bayanihan SIM Project, which provides free internet access to students, teachers and low-income families in far-flung and underserved areas.

As of Oct. 14, the program had distributed 929,259 SIM cards to beneficiaries from the Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Development and connected 2,810 schools across the country. Its coverage now extends to 76 provinces and 404 municipalities.

“Building on this progress, PSAC is recommending the extension of Bayanihan SIM subscriptions to help ensure that more than one million intended beneficiaries can continue accessing online learning, government services and other essential digital tools,” PSAC said in a statement over the weekend.

PSAC-Digital Infrastructure Sector Group made the recommendation to President Marcos during their meeting at Malacañang last week.

The council is seeking government support to secure the necessary funding and sustain the program, particularly for communities where reliable internet access remains a challenge.

Marcos recognized that many Filipinos, particularly those living in remote communities, continue to struggle with weak or nonexistent internet connections, limiting their access to essential services and economic opportunities.

According to Malacañang, the President is personally reviewing the progress of the Bayanihan SIM Project to explore ways to expand its reach and connect more Filipinos.

“The President is also seeking stronger private-sector participation to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure nationwide,” the Presidential Communications Office earlier said.

Spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Bayanihan SIM program provides beneficiaries with a SIM card that includes 25 gigabytes of monthly data valid for one year.