In Barangay Caagutayan, San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, a sense of gratitude permeates the air as the community becomes the first in the MIMAROPA Region to benefit from President Bongbong Marcos’s Smart Village and Smart Island (SVSI) initiative, a cornerstone of the Bagong Pilipinas program.

Under the banner “Digital Nation in a New Philippines,” June 7, 2024 marked the inauguration of this transformative project.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by DICT Regional Director Cheryl Ortega, DICT Provincial Officer Engr. Norly Tabo, and San Teodoro Vice Mayor Newton John Moreno, representing Mayor Salvador Py.

They were joined by Barangay Captain Arnel Dizon and Vilma Albis, president of the local Indigenous Workers’ Association.

The event was witnessed by leaders and representatives from various local and national government agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency, and Provincial Information Office.

The SVSI program aims to provide robust internet connectivity, or free Wi-Fi for all, significantly enhancing communication, education quality, and the local economy, especially for products crafted by the community that can now reach broader markets through social media.

As an initial gesture, the DICT has equipped the barangay with five tablets with keyboards, anticipating a boost in productivity facilitated by free Wi-Fi access.

A highlight of the ceremony was the pledge of commitment signed by attending officials and agency representatives, affirming their partnership with the Department of Information, Communication, and Technology (DICT) to realize the program under the overarching vision of the Bagong Pilipinas by President Marcos Jr.

The inclusion of Barangay Caagutayan’s indigenous people in the SVSI program complements and supports the Provincial Government’s primary initiative under Governor Bonz Dolor, the Zero Illiteracy program, which aims to elevate the educational aspect of indigenous communities and help them keep pace with urban citizens. (Source: PIO Oriental Mindoro)