[Updated] Free Wi-Fi services in several tourist destinations across Palawan are currently unavailable after some government-funded sites went offline due to expired subscriptions that are still under renewal, the provincial office of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.
Some tourists will not be able to access government-provided free Wi-Fi in certain destinations while affected sites are under renewal.
The update was shared during a Kapihan forum on Monday at the SM City Puerto Princesa hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Palawan, where Engr. Virgo Pinangay, provincial director of the DICT, said that only 230 of the 345 sites they have under the government’s free Wi-Fi program in the province are active.
Of this figure, 115 sites covering tourism areas in Puerto Princesa City and the province of Palawan have been out of service since October 2025.
He explained that the affected sites fall under the “Wi-Fi in Tourist Spots,” whose contracts have already ended and are now subject to renewal.
“Naka down at the moment… for renewal this first semester,” he said.
These include sites in Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Coron, Culion, Narra, Bataraza, and other municipalities with designated tourist areas.
Pinangay said even some public access points in Puerto Princesa are offline.
He added that some Wi-Fi sites in barangay halls and schools are also affected and included in this year’s renewal process.
“Ang meron po kami sa City Hall, sa Balayong Park sa may Balayong tower. Pero yun ay tapos na rin ang subscription at for renewal this year,” he added.
DICT Palawan said it is working on contract renewals and additional site implementations this year, but no specific date was given on when the affected Wi-Fi services will be restored.
In May 2023, the DICT announced a plan to improve internet connectivity in 94 identified tourist destinations across the country before the end of the year.
DICT said the program would involve the activation and deployment of internet infrastructure to provide free connectivity in key tourism areas.
The department stated that the first phase would cover 46 tourist destinations, with deployment targeted for completion in the third quarter. These initial sites included major tourism hubs such as Baguio, Palawan, Boracay, and Cebu. The remaining 48 destinations were expected to follow by year-end to achieve full nationwide coverage.
The initiative was part of a joint effort between the DICT and the Department of Tourism following a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022. The program aimed to support tourism promotion, digitalize tourist transactions, and improve visitor experience, including plans for stronger bandwidth, satellite internet for remote areas, and the rollout of an e-visa system in coordination with other government agencies.
