PLDT and Smart team up with Bangsamoro READi to help responders provide better services in BARMM areas.

After typhoon Paeng hit the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) late last year, the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) has geared up towards building a more disaster-resilient community. To enhance BARMM READi’s search, rescue, and retrieval operations in times of emergencies, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) recently donated a Ligtas Kit, an all-in-one emergency communications package.   

“With the help of the PLDT-Smart Ligtas Kit, we are now more equipped to communicate with local government units during disasters. We are able to provide better services, sustain our efforts, and save more lives,” said Jihada Karon-Maisalat, Acting Chief, Admin and Training Division of Bangsamoro READi.

The Bangsamoro READi provides immediate response to calamity-affected communities in BARMM, where communication with the affected areas is most crucial during the first 24 hours.   Meanwhile, the PLDT-Smart Ligtas Kit contains a power station, solar panel, rechargeable handy megaphone, crank radio, satellite phone (SmartSAT) with initial load, smartphone, Smart LTE pocket Wi-Fi, rechargeable flashlight, and whistle.

As part of the group’s #SafeandSmart advocacy campaign, PLDT and Smart have also collaborated with various local government units and agencies on their disaster preparedness programs, which included municipalities in the Bangsamoro region, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte and Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on resilience building.

These efforts underscore PLDT and Smart’s commitment to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 11 of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by significantly reducing the number of people affected by disasters.