PLDT and Smart strengthen their partnership with General Santos City, through its Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). Present during the ceremonial signing are, from left: Bless R. Prado from SK Barangay Fatima, SK Barangay Baluan Chairperson Jemore H. Madria , Romel B. Canaya from Smart Communications, Roshel Cualquera from SK Barangay Lagao, SK Barangay Sinawal Chairperson April Joy E. Bobis, SK GenSan Federation President and SK Barangay Calumpang John D. Demdam.
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart, together with the Sangguniang Kabataan of General Santos (GenSan) City, recently marked another year of their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement signing held last October 5.
The partnership will pursue shared advocacies on digital wellness through mental health, Internet safety, and child online protection initiatives.
“We’re grateful for the continued support of PLDT and Smart in our commitment to promote our advocacies on mental health awareness, Internet safety, and child online protection in GenSan. Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen our community-based programs that will provide access and support to the people in the city. Since launching the various collaborations last year, especially through PLDT and Smart’s Better Today program, we have been able to mobilize our youth to be our own ambassadors and champions of our advocacies,” said John Demdamn, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of General Santos City.
GenSan is one of the key focus areas of PLDT and Smart’s network expansion in Mindanao, as the city continues to be among the most progressive in the region with its robust export industry and medium to large enterprises. PLDT fiber-to-the-home and Smart 4G/LTE and 5G coverage serve the growing data connectivity needs of GenSan in particular, as well as that of the other parts of the SOCCSKSARGEN region.
“We are privileged to partner with the Sangguniang Kabataan of General Santos City in beefing up our efforts on digital wellness as we partner with more local government units. With this collaboration, we hope to cultivate a culture of kindness and empathy in the different care communities of GenSan and to champion digital safety for the children and the youth. We commend GenSan’s continued commitment in promoting mental health, Internet safety, and child online protection initiatives through policymaking. We ensure our support on these shared advocacies as we empower the youth to be champions of becoming better today,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
Better Today is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG #3 that stands for good health and well-being and UNSDG #16 that stands for peace, justice and strong institutions.
