𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐒 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐁𝐇𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐚𝐫-𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬

Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-10Bq

COTABATO CITY — The PIALEOS Project Team conducted an executive briefing via Zoom on Friday, July 3, education ministry officials led by Bangsamoro Attorney General and Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) Concurrent Acting Deputy Minister Bantuas M. Lucman.

As connectivity is a struggle in underserved areas, the project aims to boost internet connectivity for remote schools under the MBHTE, with both MBHTE and the Department of Education (DepEd) serving as beneficiaries.

The briefing highlighted the project’s progress in expanding reliable internet access to geographically isolated schools and communities across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The initiative aims to strengthen digital learning while improving access to essential government services in underserved areas.

As of June 26, a total of 5,134 out of 5,776 target sites nationwide have been installed under the PIALEOS initiative. Mindanao, including BARMM, accounts for the largest share of completed installations, reflecting the government’s continued efforts to bridge the digital divide in remote communities.

In BARMM, 1,350 of the region’s 1,352 target sites have been completed, representing a 99.85% completion rate. The remaining sites in Tawi-Tawi are in the final stages of installation and validation before the rollout is completed.

Once fully implemented, the initiative will provide high-speed internet access to schools across the region, supporting digital education, expanding learning opportunities, and improving access to government services in remote communities.

The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) with right municipalities.

According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)