NeA signs MOU with DiCT, PhilReCA for rural expansion of broadband services

National Electrification Administration (NEA) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) to provide high-speed internet services to rural areas.

Under the MOU, the DICT is tapping electric cooperatives (ECs) under the supervision of the NEA for the “last mile” of the government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) project aimed at improving internet access in the country.

The MOU also formalizes the tripartite collaboration “to realize the objectives of the NBP, including but not limited to the co-use of fiber optic cables.”

“Under the agreement, the NEA and PHILRECA will coordinate with the ECs regarding the NBP project. The DICT, on the other hand, shall be allowed to connect or access the ECs’ existing nodes so that it may link with other government agencies,” the NEA said.

In its tripartite agreement with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) last June 8, the DICT was given the right to use their dark fiber network.

The MOU between the DICT, NEA and PHILRECA was signed last Friday at the first PHILRECAPhilippine Federation of Electric Cooperatives (PHILFECO) Joint Convention at SM City General Santos Trade Hall.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong and PHILRECA president Presley De Jesus signed the MOU on behalf of their parties. DICT Undersecretary Denis Vil- lorente was represented by DICT regional director Erlito Tancontian, who also stood as witness.

Also present to witness the MOU signing was PHILFECO chairman David Solomon Siquian.

“The NEA and DICT have started exploring arrangements to bring broadband connectivity into the countryside by tapping the existing infrastructure of the ECs,” Masongsong said.

“Let me affirm our full commitment and support to the National Broadband of the government. We will work hand-in-hand and rest assured our commitments will become realities,” the NEA chief added.

Last month, the NEA announced that it was working with the DICT to form a technical working group that will draft the framework agreement for the expansion of broadband services to rural areas.