Year after year, Catanduanes in the Bicol Region stands on the frontlines of the fiercest storms. Known as the “Land of the Howling Winds,” the island province lies directly along the western Pacific typhoon belt, making it one of the first areas in the Philippines to bear the brunt of powerful typhoons, torrential rains, and storm surges.

Recognizing the urgent need to strengthen disaster preparedness in one of the country’s most disaster-prone provinces, PLDT, Smart, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), through Australian Aid-funded Project REACHED (Resilient Emergency Communications for Enhanced Disaster Response) recently marked July as the National Disaster Resilience Month by turning over Ligtas Kits to three vulnerable barangays in Virac, Catanduanes—Balite, Simamla, and Talisoy—strengthening the disaster preparedness capability of the municipality.

The PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit is a portable, all-in-one emergency communication and power package that includes a power station, solar panel, smartphone, crank radio, pocket WiFi, emergency lights, FM radio, and charging accessories, essential tools for maintaining communication and power during critical situations.

PDRF Center Director Arnel Capili said that the kits build on earlier deployments in Virac, extending the support to barangays previously outside the scope of Project REACHED. “Building the disaster resilience and capacity of these Virac barangays reflects the combined efforts of the PDRF, PLDT and Smart, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the World Food Programme, and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through Project REACHED.”

Virac Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II Josephine Benavidez said that the selected barangays have limited mobile coverage, making coordination during emergencies challenging. “With the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit, we will now be able to monitor the condition of the residents even prior to our team physically being in the area,” according to Benavidez.

Barangay Balite Kagawad Alexander Borja said that the kit fills a longstanding gap in the barangay's disaster response capacity, which previously relied on a single, small generator during power interruptions common in the coastal area. He said the megaphone and power station will be particularly useful for coordinating evacuations along the coastline.

Virac Mayor Hon. Sinforoso M. Sarmiento Jr. acknowledged that the assistance addresses a real need in the municipality, given limited local government resources that are often prioritized for basic needs. He also said that the barangays selected have consistently performed well in the delivery of local public service, giving assurance that the equipment will be properly maintained and used.

The turnover, held at the Virac Municipal Hall, was attended by Mayor Sarmiento, PDRF Center Director Capili, and PLDT and Smart FVP and head of Public Engagement Roby Alampay, who said that “it's about making sure that we can still help each other, especially when we can't communicate with each other. This is part of our mission to work hand-in-hand with partners, particularly LGUs. Local governments know their communities best, and our partnership with them is central to how we deliver disaster resilience programs.”

The Virac turnover forms part of a broader effort under Project REACHED to strengthen emergency communication and response capabilities in disaster-prone communities nationwide. PLDT and Smart continue to work with partners like the PDRF under the #KonektedforResilience advocacy, promoting disaster resilience before, during, and after emergencies.