1,128 4Ps Caraga families connected through DICT’s Bayanihan SIM
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — A total of 1,128 subscriber identity module (SIM) cards were distributed to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Caraga by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
This DICT project fulfills the government’s commitment to digital inclusion, ensuring that 4Ps beneficiaries, who are one of the most vulnerable sectors of society, are equipped with the tools to participate in the digital economy.
The initiative, carried out in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, covered 39 barangays across the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, held from March 11-13.
DICT Caraga Director Mario P. Cuñado said, “Guided by the spirit of ‘bayanihan,’ the Filipino tradition of communities working together, the government has rolled out the Bayanihan SIM Project to ensure that no family is left behind in the digital age.”
“Each beneficiary received a Bayanihan SIM card with 25GB monthly data allocation for one year, enabling families to stay connected for education, communication, access to government services, and livelihood opportunities,” Dir. Cuñado added.
For DSWD Caraga, the initiative enabled families in unserved and underserved communities to access reliable mobile connectivity, avail themselves of essential services, and benefit from the opportunities of the digital age. The agency identified eligible beneficiaries and facilitated coordination with 4Ps families across Caraga to ensure that the program reaches its intended recipients.
“Ang inisyatibong ito ay isang konkretong halimbawa ng convergence ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan upang mas mapalapit ang mga serbisyo sa ating mga benepisyaryo. (This initiative is a concrete example of the convergence among agencies of the government to bring services closer to the beneficiaries),” said DSWD Caraga Assistant Regional Director for Operations Jean Paul S. Pajares, during the project kick-off in Veruela, Agusan del Sur.
Beneficiaries also shared how the Bayanihan SIM project will help them stay connected. “The Bayanihan SIM has been a great help to parents like me whose children struggle to access the internet. Because of this, my kids can connect online which supports their studies, helps them learn more, and allows them to give their best in school,” Jessica Miranda, 4Ps beneficiary from Barangay Magsaysay, Madrid, Surigao del Sur, said.
More than just internet access, the Bayanihan SIM project highlights connectivity as a pathway to opportunity, empowerment, and inclusive growth, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DICT Caraga and DSWD Caraga)
