From the ground level up to the third floor of the UP Diliman (UPD) Student Union Building (SUB), there is no available public internet service with stable connection. On the fourth floor, where rooms are used for the periodic Kapihan sa Diliman and student activities, the WiFi network DILNET is available but with very limited bandwidth.

This is the same situation in most areas and buildings sprawled across almost 270 hectares of the Diliman academic core area. The recent launch of DILNET2.0, meanwhile, is not an improvement from this situation. In an interview, the University Computer Center’s Systems and Networks Team (SNT) said at least P120 million pesos is needed to implement 100-percent coverage.

While UP President Angelo Jimenez earlier promised to digitize the university, the looming threat of budget cuts and perennial delays in project implementation fails to address the community’s needs in the remodeled post-pandemic education.

Lost Connection

When DILNET was launched in 1995, it used fiber-optic cables and was funded through donations. Today, the network also uses access points (APs) to facilitate wireless browsing from personal gadgets.

Currently, there are more than 1,500 APs installed in 58 locations across the campus, most of which are concentrated in the National Science Complex and the College of Engineering Complex. Locations on the edge of campus such as SUB, meanwhile, are cut off from stable connectivity. SNT’s experimental project DILNET2.0 will not change this.

“Cellular networks still have these [dead zones] in spite of having billions of pesos for equipment outlay, what more for a campus that has limited budget for equipment outlay. DILNET2.0 still relies on the same infrastructure, so if last month you had [a] poor signal in an area, this doesn't solve it,” SNT told Collegian.

This is because DILNET2.0 is merely a recalibrated version of DILNET, allowing users for one-time configuration and automatic connection. This means that, just like before, bandwidth–the data transfer rate per second—stays the same. SNT said that their last speed test showed that DILNET can carry 150 to 350 megabits per second.

The current DILNET will be decommissioned later this year to remove the additional strain it will place on DILNET2.0. Eduroam and WIFI@UPD, meanwhile, will remain accessible. They are, however, slower and more limited than DILNET.

But the remodeled learning modes after the COVID-19 pandemic required stable internet access for students and teachers. Under the new normal framework, three out of four learning modes will require internet connection to implement proper facilitation. And with the reopening of the campus to students, a more accessible and faster network onsite is required.

“To assume 100 percent coverage of the entire campus’s 120 buildings, we will need an additional 1,800 access points—this will bring most of the academic units to a one access point to one classroom ratio,” SNT said. “Currently, we're around 1 is to 4 or 6 since the access points are installed on the corridors of most buildings.”

To achieve this, SNT would need to acquire at least P120 million to buy APs and further cabling. There will also be a need to expand firewalls for safe browsing on campus networks. But with threats on the UP budget for the next academic year, this feat is blurring.

Wide Range Problem

It was under UP President Alfredo Pascual’s term that the botched systemwide information and communications technology (ICT) program, eUP, was started—it was later flagged by the Commission on Audit for its questionable lack of documentation. In the past 12 years under the Pascual and UP President Danilo Concepcion administrations, only a total of around P50 million was allocated for WiFi coverage in UPD. But even these are big improvements from 2013 when no more than 150 APs were installed.

Under the proposed 2024 budget, UP System did not outline any project to build and acquire digital infrastructure. This is despite Jimenez’s promise to transform the university into a digital institution.

Jimenez had his presidential bid under the banner of digital transformation, where the main goal is to improve digital infrastructure and modernize learning. In his turnover speech, he said that his administration is looking to create high-speed networks across the UP System. He likewise spoke of improved remote learning methods and access for students.

But other than creating a new post—the presidential adviser for digital transformation—there has not been any significant change, so far, to realize Jimenez’s promises. The post is currently occupied by Peter Sy, an associate professor from the UPD Department of Philosophy. UPD’s 2024 planned spending, similarly, does not have any explicit plan for this “digital transformation.”

The problem lies with the fact that implementations are not consulted with UP constituents, said Agham Youth (AY) Engineering.

“Making technology work for good means having dialogue with the UP community in order to come up with plans on digital connectivity and transformation that truly serve the needs of the people instead of serving the interests of foreign and private entities,” AY Engineering Vice Chairperson Migo Pagdanganan told the Collegian.

The Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) P21.29-billion budget proposal for UP further lessens the possibility of better digital infrastructure. UP’s original ask was P40.8 billion, mainly geared to expand and build facilities in various constituent universities. But under the submitted proposal of DBM, UP will only have P52 million for infrastructure projects.

State universities and colleges (SUCs) like UP are poised to suffer a total of P6.16-billion budget cut next year. The squeezed-out money from these institutions are funneled towards the dubious P5 billion of combined confidential and intelligence funds for Malacañang and the Office of the Vice President.

Rewiring

For AY Engineering, the situation is apparent: misappropriated funding and lack of initiative from Quezon Hall.

“The reason why UP and other state universities and colleges are facing worsening budget cuts is because the state is pouring more money into confidential funds which will ultimately serve their interests instead of the interests of the people,” Pagdanganan said.

On November 15, members of the UP System ICT Committee opposed the entry of Chinese ICT firm Huawei to replace the university’s existing network infrastructure. The university’s IT experts argued that the Huawei services have not been studied. UP said it is still “welcoming proposals from stakeholders and suppliers.”

In the proposed 2024 expenditure, the Department of Information and Communication Technology will cop P8.7 billion, but only P721 million is allocated to development programs for the entire country. This goes against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise of improved digital infrastructure by next year.

Without enough funding, internet connectivity on UPD is seen to remain as it is today: slow and limited. The burden lies on the Jimenez administration’s shoulders, ensuring that his promises are brought to reality to match the current learning model.

But the far heavier emphasis is placed on the national government.

Next month, the Congress plans to have the 2024 budget approved. But until the funding is realigned to cater to services for SUCs, there will always be a shortage of resources for students and faculties, and with it, a limitation to the conduct of new-normal classes.

“The government must oppose the UP budget cuts. They must also abolish all confidential funds and rechannel these [funds] to basic services such as education, healthcare, and other important social services,” said Pagdanganan. ●