The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said that it had tightened monitoring of the Free Wi-Fi for All Program amid an Office of the Ombudsman inquiry into alleged “ghost Internet projects” involving undelivered connectivity services and potentially misrepresented technology purchases.
The DICT said on Sunday, Sept. 20, that it had yet to receive a formal notice from the Ombudsman concerning alleged irregularities specifically involving the Free Wi-Fi program but was prepared to turn over records and system data.
“Although no formal notice has been received from the Office of the Ombudsman to date, the DICT proactively welcomes the inquiry. With full commitment to transparency, it stands ready to provide all necessary assistance, records, and system data to support any investigation,” the agency said.
The statement followed the Ombudsman’s announcement that it had begun a fact-finding investigation into contracts linked to DICT projects.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano earlier said the investigation would look into government purchases of hardware and accompanying software worth billions of pesos in which the installed software may have been outdated, cheaper than what was specified, or counterfeit.
The inquiry also covers allegations of undelivered connectivity services and inflated government contracts. The Ombudsman has not identified the projects, contractors, officials, or amounts involved because the fact-finding investigation remains underway.
In its latest statement, the DICT said secretary Henry Aguda had ordered stronger governance, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms for the Free Wi-Fi program after assuming office.
The measures include stricter enforcement of service-level agreements, enhanced contract management, regular internal audits, and additional validation of contractors’ performance.
The agency said it had upgraded its Network Monitoring System to Version 2 to provide nationwide visibility of Free Wi-Fi sites, including projects implemented through its regional offices.
According to the DICT, the system can monitor access points, record service interruptions, assess providers’ performance, and use actual network data when validating contracts and payments.
The agency also said it had changed its procurement procedures by requiring service components to be itemized and evaluated instead of being priced under bundled arrangements. It said this provides greater visibility into project costs.
Private contractors are responsible for deploying the infrastructure, while the DICT monitors whether the contracted services are operational and compliant with performance requirements.
“Any reports of non-performing or inactive sites are subject to immediate technical audit and contractual sanctions,” the DICT said.
The agency did not disclose how many Free Wi-Fi sites were inactive or under technical audit, whether payments had been withheld, or whether any contractors had been sanctioned.
The DICT said it maintains a policy of zero tolerance for corruption, non-performing contracts, and misrepresented deliverables. A day earlier, the agency also said it would formally write to the Ombudsman and provide the records and technical information needed for the broader investigation.
