PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications continue their partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), through a recent cultural sensitivity training for their employees and external contractors based in Baguio City. This initiative is part of the PLDT group’s continuing efforts to equip its workforce and partners with the knowledge and skills in engaging with Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs).
Titled “Essentials and Accelerators for Engaging with Indigenous Cultural Communities,” the training session was conducted by NCIP Region IV-A Director Dr. Carlos P. Buasen Jr. The session covered the history and story of Philippine indigenous peoples; assertions of and learning insights from indigenous cultural communities/IPs; and essential considerations and expected multi-stakeholder responses in engaging with IP communities.
“Through this program, we hope to help our workforce gain a better understanding on the culture and practices of the various IP communities all over the Philippines. This will in turn help us improve our programs, services, and communications with them as our customers and partners,” said Joy E. Lapuz, head of PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management-Luzon Relations.
FiberHome operations manager Francis Castro Jr., who is from an IP group in the Cordilleras and one of the attendees during the activity, highlighted the importance of respect and cultural sensitivity. “Dalawa ang tumatak sa akin sa presentation na ito—respect and cultural sensitivity. I myself kasi, noong pumunta ako sa isang lugar, na-experience ko yung sinabi kong taga bundok ako dito sa Cordillera, titingnan nila yung likod ko. Pero later on nag-research sila and sinabi ko sa kanila na ganito kami sa Cordillera. Kaya yung culture din nila in-adopt and nirespeto ko din. Kung saan man tayo mapunta, respetuhin natin and maging sensitive tayo sa culture ng iba (Two things stood out to me in this presentation—respect and cultural sensitivity. When I was assigned to another province and mentioned that I was from the mountains of Cordillera, they stared at my back to search for an identifying mark. But later on, they did some research and I explained to them what our culture in Cordillera is like. I also adopted and respected their culture. Wherever we go, let’s respect and be sensitive to the culture of others),” said Castro.
Another participant, Nicole Blazo Sr., PLDT Enterprise North Luzon customer IP network specialist, said that enhancing employees’ understanding of IPs could help them further enhance their service to the community. “In our area, CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region), we need to know how to apply these principles to enhance our service to the IPs. By applying the principles taught to us, we hope to improve all aspects of our service,” said Blazo.
PLDT and Smart have been capacitating their employees on engagements with IPs and local communities as part of the group’s human rights impact assessment and due diligence processes. The Group has also been supporting IPs throughout the years with diversity and inclusion programs aimed to preserve and enrich their unique culture, and initiatives that open economic opportunities for their communities. These efforts are also aligned with PLDT and Smart's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals: 1 (No Poverty); 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
