Advisory #6: MVP-led Tulong Kapatid relief, comms aid reach communities hit by #KristinePH
PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have deployed manpower and resources to reach communities affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) has fully utilized the Infocast service as a means of continuing communications with communities isolated in the aftermath of #KristinePH and have stated "We thank Smart for providing load for communications, helping with our rescue, response and in organizing the damage assessment and the disaster recovery teams."
In a concerted effort to aid affected communities, the PLDT Group, through Tulong Kapatid, has initiated relief operations, distributing essential supplies to both employees and residents.
Initial Relief Efforts
- On-the-Ground Support: The Group's dedicated teams, including those who were themselves affected by the typhoon, are actively distributing relief goods to families in need.
- Chartered Flights: Two batches of relief supplies, comprising food and medicine, were successfully delivered to Naga City via chartered flights from Friday to Sunday.
- Digital Donations: Individuals can contribute to the relief efforts by donating online through Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) and PLDT Group's fintech unit, Maya QR code.
Aside from the immediate needs of affected communities, Smart was also able to provide load denominations to the UPLB Volunteer Committee group as communication aid. The load was used in coordinating and monitoring the effects of KristinePH. Stranded students were also able to use the load to reach their families and friends.
Tulong Kapatid responds to communities in need
In the spirit of malasakit, the foundations and CSR units of companies led by Manny V. Pangilinan, through Tulong Kapatid, have come together to reach more #KristinePH-hit communities. PLDT and Smart, together with PLDT-Smart Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI), Cignal TV, Landco Pacific Corporation Makati Medical Center Foundation, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, One Meralco Foundation, TV5, have begun distributing essential relief items in the form of food packs, sleeping kits, clothing, linen, hygiene kits, water, solar lamps, and medicines such as doxycycline and paracetamol to affected communities and employees.
Tulong Kapatid and the PLDT Group remain committed to building the resilience of communities, especially during emergency situations and their aftermath.
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Advisory #5: PLDT Group network restoration in progress, rescue and relief ops in full swing post
PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are progressively restoring fixed and wireless networks in areas where commercial power has returned following the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. In coordination with Tulong Kapatid, the Group’s initial relief supplies have reached affected employees and communities.
“Our Network repair teams are continuing to restore connectivity to areas such as Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Camarines Sur, where commercial power has come back. While the extent of damage to the lines leading to individual homes affect the speed of network restoration, PLDT and Smart are committed to reconnecting affected communities as quickly as possible,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
Through the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc (AKFI), the PLDT Group has facilitated the delivery of relief supplies including food and medicine to employees directly affected by the typhoon. Two batches of these supplies were safely delivered to Naga City on Friday afternoon via chartered flights. Additionally, AKFI trucks are en route to Naga City with more relief goods. To support the affected communities, individuals can contribute online donations through the QR code of AKFI and PLDT Group's fintech unit Maya.
PLDT and Smart’s disaster resilience efforts reinforce their role as lead convenors of the PROTECTA Pilipinas alliance of public agencies and private companies. PROTECTA Pilipinas seeks the promotion of resilience of telecom networks, including redundancy, disaster recovery plans and cybersecurity protocols to prevent disruptions. [END]
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Advisory #4: PLDT Group, Albay LGU join hands, extending help to #KristinePH-hit communities
PLDT Group strengthens its support to the Bicol region’s local government disaster response efforts, as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine displaces thousands of residents from their homes. PLDT’s wireless unit Smart is also providing the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) its Infocast service as a means of continuing communications with communities in the path of Kristine.
“In a coordinated effort, PLDT Group has consolidated relief supplies such as food and medicine for delivery via chartered flight to Naga City today, Friday. A base of operations has been established in Albay to facilitate the distribution of aid, with relief trucks from Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc (AKFI) already on their way. Ensuring timely and accurate information sharing, PLDT and Smart, in collaboration with APSEMO, are utilizing our Infocast service in Albay, saving more lives through updates and alerts,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
APSEMO noted, “We are maximizing the use of Smart's Infocast for information dissemination, to help save lives in our most affected communities in Albay. We also would like to thank Smart for providing load for communications, helping with our rescue, response and in organizing the damage assessment and the disaster recovery teams.”
In partnership with Tulong Kapatid, the consortium of foundations and CSR units of companies led by Manny V Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart, together with PLDT-Smart Foundation, AKFI, Makati Medical Center Foundation, One Meralco Foundation, MPIC, Maynilad, TV5, Cignal TV, and Landco Pacific Corporation are delivering essential relief items such as food packs, sleeping kits, clothing, linen, hygiene kits, water, and medicines such as doxycycline and paracetamol to affected communities and employees. PLDT Group fintech unit Maya and AKFI have also launched an online donation drive via QR code, for those who wish to help.
According to PAGASA, Kristine is expected to exit the Philippines on the afternoon of October 25, 2024.
Maya QR Code: QR code from PLDT Group fintech unit Maya and AKFI for those who wish to help those affected by the typhoon
Relief packages, medicines, and water being loaded to fixed wing KingAir for swift delivery
Relief items to be provided to affected areas
Doxycycline and Paracetamol to address Leptospirosis
Ecobags with food and other relief items for distribution
Jugs of clean drinking water to be delivered to affected communities
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Advisory #3: PLDT Group begin extending comms aid, relief to personnel, communities impacted by #KristinePH
As #KristinePH continues along its devastating path, the PLDT Group is stepping up its efforts to provide assistance to affected communities. From October 24 to 27, Smart Communications will suspend the redirection of accounts to provide relief to those customers in typhoon-hit areas.
For Smart Prepaid subscribers, Loan-A-Load is now accessible through Facebook Free Mode. With just three simple steps, customers can avail themselves of a minimum of 100MB open access for only PHP 5, valid for one day. Additional loan packages are also available by dialing *5623#. TNT subscribers can access "TNT Utang Na Load" via Facebook or dialing *5623# for various data, call, and text offers.
Despite the impact of Typhoon Kristine, PLDT and Smart's network services have remained relatively stable, except for areas in Bicol that continue to experience commercial power outages.
“PLDT and Smart are mobilizing relief supplies for our network and sales teams severely impacted in Bicol, while our Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. is helping transport and deliver them. A further assessment of the needs of the affected communities is currently being done, while prepositioned response teams are ready to be deployed once local government units deem it safe to do so,” said Cathy Yang, FVP & Group Head, Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
PLDT and Smart have also sent an initial batch of mats and blankets to help augment Alagang Kapatid Foundation’s relief efforts. The AKFI team is planning to go to Bicol when conditions improve to provide immediate help. As of October 23, the group’s social outreach arm PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) announced that it is gearing up to deploy relief goods together with PLDT and Smart volunteers and Alagang Kapatid Foundation.
Prepositioned response teams are ready to be deployed by the PLDT Group once local government units (LGUs) deem it safe to do so. These teams will play a crucial role in restoring services and providing assistance to affected communities. The PLDT Group remains committed to building the resilience of communities, especially during emergency situations.
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Advisory 2: PLDT Group offers refuge at Daet Cable Landing Station amid “Kristine”
As 'Kristine' lashes across Bicol region, PLDT and Smart personnel have provided refuge for families residing around the Daet Cable Landing Station in Camarines Norte. With the assistance of PLDT Group personnel, at least 21 families are now safely settled inside the facility, as they wait for flood waters in their communities to recede. The PLDT-Smart Foundation is also preparing 4,000 relief packs for affected communities in North Luzon and the Bicol Region, to be distributed in partnership with the Alagang Kapatid Foundation.
“PLDT Group ensures the safety of not only its people but also the communities it serves. We have also prepositioned personnel, equipment, and resources to ensure the resilience and availability of network services. We are prepared to work closely with local government units, provincial and municipal information agencies, as well as local disaster risk reduction and management offices to ensure continuous connectivity and the safety of all,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and Group Head for Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
PLDT Group urges everyone in the affected areas to take necessary precautions and follow the advice of local authorities. PLDT and Smart will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
As of 8:00 AM on 23 October 2024 (Wednesday), the center of Kristine was last located 310 km East of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 105 kph moving west-northwest at 15 kmh. A Heavy Rainfall Warning has already been issued by PAGASA for areas in Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and the Visayas.
These efforts are part of PLDT and Smart's broader commitment towards a #SafeandSmart Philippines and are aligned with the UNSDG No. 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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Advisory 1: PLDT, Smart ready to assist communities in the path of “Kristine”
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are ready to extend assistance to communities that will be affected by Tropical Depression Kristine. They have prepositioned personnel, equipment, and resources to ensure the resilience of network services, and are prepared to work closely with local government units, provincial and municipal information agencies, and local disaster risk reduction and management offices to ensure continuous connectivity.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Depression Kristine was last located 1,050 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon as of 5:00 AM today. The storm is expected to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may reach severe tropical storm or typhoon category before making landfall over the northeastern portion of Cagayan.
PLDT and Smart urge everyone in the affected areas to take necessary precautions and follow the advice of local authorities. The companies will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
