The local government of Tagum City has officially launched an ambitious digital connectivity project that aims to revolutionize how residents and visitors access government services and information.
Pioneering Digital Connectivity in the Philippines
On November 25, 2025, Tagum City began rolling out its flagship Tagum City-Wide Network Project, marking a significant milestone in local government-led digital initiatives. The project, which started with Barangay Magugpo East as the pilot area, represents the first undertaking of its kind in the country where a local government unit is establishing a comprehensive WiFi-based network across all 23 barangays.
Unlike traditional office-based WiFi setups that serve individual buildings, this innovative project extends coverage to entire communities. During the launch ceremony, officials successfully demonstrated the network's capability by conducting a test call from Magugpo East to the Directory Operator at City Hall using exclusively the city's WiFi infrastructure, despite the physical distance between locations.
Strategic Implementation and Service Scope
According to City ICT Management Officer Joseph Nelson Briones, the network will initially support key sectors including education, economic enterprises, and tourism. The system is also designed to enhance essential services such as healthcare, social welfare, and emergency response operations, particularly during critical situations when reliable communication becomes paramount.
Briones provided important clarification about the service's scope: The free access applies specifically to the city's WiFi network and dedicated digital portal, not general internet browsing. Users connecting to the network can browse the city's centralized portal containing local information, announcements, and updates from various government offices, but access to external websites and social media platforms will still require personal data subscriptions from telecommunications providers.
Collaborative Effort for Digital Modernization
The project represents a strong partnership between the local government and private sector expertise. Beldians IT Solutions is leading the installation of necessary telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber optics and backend systems required to support the expansive network.
Mayor Rey T. Uy described the launch as a significant step toward establishing Tagum as one of the Philippines' emerging smart cities—communities where essential information and public services become more accessible, integrated, and digitally empowered through innovative technology solutions.
The inauguration ceremony saw participation from numerous key officials including DICT Davao del Norte Officer Octavio Guidelondo Jr., Beldians IT Solutions CEO Eldon Gazmen, Councilors Atty. Edmark Wakan and Engr. Agripino Coquilla, City Accountant Ramil Y. Tiu, Magugpo East Barangay Captain Ian C. Neo, and personnel from the City Information and Communication Technology Management Office (CICTMO).
Building a Digitally Inclusive Future
The collaboration between the Local Government Unit, CICTMO, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and Beldians IT Solutions underscores Tagum's commitment to modernizing local services and ensuring digital inclusivity for all constituents.
Through the Tagum City-Wide Network Project, the city aims to demonstrate that digital transformation represents more than just a conceptual framework—it constitutes an active and sustained effort to improve community life, empower citizens through technology access, and streamline government operations for more efficient public service delivery.
The long-term vision involves scaling the network across the entire city, creating a unified digital ecosystem that bridges communication gaps and fosters greater connectivity among Tagum's diverse communities.
