Globe Telecom, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has launched the Bayanihan SIM initiative in the remote town of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan—an early step in a broader push to deliver digital connectivity to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the country.
The initiative, rolled out at Kalawakan Elementary School, is part of the government’s nationwide drive to bridge the digital divide under Republic Act No. 10929 (Free Internet Access in Public Places Act). Supported by GCash, DepEd, DILG, and the Philippine Statistics Authority, the program provided 500 students, teachers, and parents with Globe-powered TM SIMs offering 25GB of monthly open-access data, with bonuses upon activation and use.
Beyond basic connectivity, Bayanihan SIM aims to foster digital literacy, online learning, access to government services, and inclusion in the digital economy. Users can leverage the SIMs to access educational platforms (DepEd TV, Khan Academy), manage digital classrooms, and explore fintech and livelihood resources like GCash and ThisisKwela.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda emphasized the corporate-public partnership’s significance in addressing infrastructure gaps, noting that for the first time, infrastructure subsidies are being extended to telcos to support SIM rollout and tower construction in underserved areas.
Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz underscored the commercial and social impact of the initiative, stating, “Connectivity should not depend on geography.” Globe aims to roll out one million SIMs under the program, reaching over 333,000 individuals, and help operationalize the government’s digital inclusion goals.
By embedding connectivity at the community level, Bayanihan SIM is a strategic step toward building inclusive digital ecosystems, driving both social development and long-term commercial relevance in frontier markets.
