A total of 2,780 SIM cards loaded with 25GB of monthly data for one year has been allotted for Catanduanes learners and community members under the Bayanihan SIM program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Last Jan. 26, 2026, 1,134 students from Buenavista Elementary School in Bato as well as residents of the barangay and nearby villages received free connectivity as the DICT Bicol simultaneously carried out the program implementation in Balud, Masbate where 850 beneficiaries from Calumpang Elementary School also got the same loaded SIM cards aimed at broadening digital opportunities for learners and communities.
The target beneficiaries for this program include students, parents, teachers, 4Ps beneficiaries, and community members.
Aside from Buenavista, the other recipients in Catanduanes came from Bagumbayan, San Pedro, Mintay, Sibacungan, Libjo, and in San Miguel, Boton Primary School, and San Miguel Central School.
For the entire Bicol Region, the program targets the distribution of 41,700 SIM cards.
The flagship initiative under the JuanSIM ng Bayan Program underscores the government’s resolve to ensure inclusive connectivity across all provinces of the Bicol Region and demonstrates the agency’s continued commitment to strengthening digital access, the DICT said in a news release.
The program aims to promote digital independence and inclusion by providing free SIM cards loaded with 25GB of open-access data per month, valid for one year, to learners and communities—particularly those in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
This initiative seeks to expand access to learning resources, communication platforms, and essential online services, while helping bridge the digital divide.
The Bayanihan SIM Program is being implemented in partnership with telecommunications providers, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), and local government units (LGUs).
The activity was attended by key DICT officials, including Assistant Regional Director Engr. Carmela P. Valencia, Engr. Nomel Ebuenga, Regional Focal Person of the Free WiFi for All Program (DICT RO5), and Engr. Norly Tabo, OIC-Chief of the Technical Operations Division.
Delivering messages of support for the learners and Bayanihan SIM project were Masbate Governor Ricardo T. Kho, Catanduanes Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza, Congressman Jose J. Teves Jr., and Cong. Eulogio R. Rodriguez, represented by Councilor Dennis Pereyra.
This commitment was further reinforced by school heads, representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), telecommunications provider, and other partner organizations.
Delivering the message on behalf of OIC Regional Director Asec. June Vincent Manuel S. Gaudan, OIC-ARD Valencia emphasized the critical role of connectivity in today’s digital landscape, particularly in empowering learners and communities in underserved areas.
Aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, the initiative highlights the government’s commitment to expanding digital opportunities and ensuring inclusive access to connectivity for all Filipinos.