MORE than 30,000 students in Taguig City are now connected to the internet after receiving free unlimited 5G access from Dito Home through the Adopt-A-School Program of Hands On Manila, a nonprofit private organization championing volunteerism.

Dito Telecommunity provided Taguig public schools with its fastest broadband internet, Dito Home Unli 5G Wi-Fi, to help alleviate the digital divide in the public school areas and enable students to leverage the benefits of 5G technology.

Initially, Dito provided a free ultra-fast internet connection to six public schools: Cipriano P. Sta. Teresa Elementary School, Silangan Elementary School, Taguig Integrated School, Napindan Integrated School, South Daang Hari Elementary School and Taguig National High School. The internet connection was installed in key areas of learning, teaching and convergence.

Dito Telecommunity Home Business Unit head Joyce Capacillo said the initiative is a technical solution to the students’ struggle with limited internet access and a source of hope for them to continue pursuing their dreams and aspirations.

“We aim to support the education sector by helping provide equitable access to the internet. We recognize that a lack of internet connectivity not only limits students’ access to educational resources but also hinders their ability to navigate and fully engage in a digital environment, a skill that is crucial for their future,” Capacillo said.

“We’ve heard stories of students having a hard time securing their own mobile data just to complete their school requirements and online exams. Such stories opened our eyes to the daily hardships that young minds face every day, and our hope is to somehow alleviate this burden and that no student gets left behind,” she added.

Officials and representatives from the participating public schools and Taguig local government joined the launch, including Dr. Flordelyn Umagat, principal of Silangan Elementary School; Annette Cristobal, principal of Cipriano P. Sta. Teresa Elementary School; Dr. Francia Patron, principal of Napindan Integrated School; Kathryn Raymundo, HOM school coordinator of Taguig National High School; Dr. Joselito Mataac, principal of Taguig Integrated School; and Marieta Junio, principal of South Daang Hari Elementary School.

“Dito’s 5G technology will surely empower our students to level up their skills and talents,” Mataac said.

Capacillo said the initiative would be expanded to other cities with hopes of providing an inclusive and empowering internet experience for all.

“We are happy to collaborate with education and community stakeholders to power up public schools. We want to send that message out ... ‘Welcome Lahat Dito.’ There is much value in joining efforts to strengthen connectivity in public schools because that also means connecting students to a brighter and more promising future,” the telco executive said.