The Philippines’ largest integrated telco PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), bring the Project Ligtas Emergency Communication Workshop to several municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao.
Project Ligtas is an emergency communication workshop that seeks to close the communication gap between the local government units and the private sector through seamless information management and data exchange.
“We’re glad that our partner LGUs were able to attend our Emergency Communications Training with PDRF, joining us in our pursuit to help communities become disaster-resilient. We are one with the government in its mission to improve the country’s disaster resilience, as well as protect the vulnerable sectors in the communities, including but not limited to children, women, and persons with disabilities,” said PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management Visayas Relations Head Marylou Gocotano during the Project Ligtas VisMin leg.
The training was attended by representatives from Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of Visayas and Mindanao LGUs.
Through PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart advocacy, the group provides a Ligtas Kit, an all-in-one communications package, that offers helpful resources for emergency preparedness and disaster management communication. Select LGUs in the country have received the group’s Ligtas Kit.
“The Ligtas Kit is a great aid to the DRRM Office as far as disaster response is concerned. We can now quickly respond to any emergencies and communicate with our responders on ground. We’re grateful to PLDT and Smart for the programs they extended to Typhoon Odette-affected municipalities in Siargao Island,” said Genevie Sumaylo, Responder from LGU Pilar’s DRRMO in Surigao del Norte.
A dashboard will also be developed through PDRF’s Hazard and Disaster Analysis for Business Resilience, or HANDA, enabling PLDT and Smart to keep in touch with LGUs.
“The learnings we’ve acquired through the emergency communications training would greatly enhance the capability of our operations center personnel. This is particularly important in managing communication lines and effective interoperability among various stakeholders, for better response during disasters and other emergencies,” shared Ormoc CDRRMO Head Ciriaco Tolibao, II.
This PLDT and Smart initiative seeks to promote preparedness and immediate response through continuous availability of communication services, mobile solutions, and activities to help communities mitigate disaster risks. This is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal#11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.