In celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart backed the call of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), government agencies, and international and local civil society organizations (CSOs), for a more resilient Philippines.
During the recent Cluster Connect Conference, the PLDT Group also showcased its Ligtas Kit, an all-in-one communications package that aims to extend quick, emergency communications support to communities during disasters or emergencies. With the theme Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future for this year’s International DRR Day, PLDT and Smart reiterated their commitment towards achieving this goal through their programs.
“As telco operators, PLDT and Smart continue to play an active role in extending communication support to the resilience building initiatives of our partners in different sectors,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart. “Through inclusive and sustainable communication technologies, like the Ligtas Kit, we aim to create more disaster-resilient communities across the country. We continuously roll out tech-enabled and purpose-driven solutions to assist all members of the community, especially during disasters,” she added.
Ligtas Kits deployed to towns in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are packaged with a comprehensive emergency communications training, in partnership with PDRF, which will be conducted to strengthen the capacity of communities and their residents to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies.
PLDT and Smart also joined everyone present at the conference in the call to build more resilient Filipino communities and to mitigate the risks of natural disasters and climate change through collaboration and innovation.
“Each time one of our companies acts to assist others, we help build that resilient future. We also have to be mindful that we must include the entire community, that we cannot leave anyone behind, especially people with disabilities or any minorities,” said Rene Meily, President of PDRF.
To date, PLDT and Smart have deployed 58 Ligtas Kits to municipalities and cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. More Ligtas kits will be rolled out in the coming years through partnerships with the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and other like-minded organizations that support the #SafeandSmart advocacy.
This is part of the Group’s broader commitment towards a #SafeandSmart Philippines through technology and is aligned with the UNSDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.