In a continued effort to build resilient communities across the Philippines, PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. have equipped the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Catarman, Northern Samar, with the PLDT-Smart Ligtas Kit, an emergency communications package designed to strengthen disaster response and preparedness.
Catarman, the capital and largest town of Northern Samar, is a bustling gateway to Eastern Visayas. Known for its heritage churches, vibrant river systems, and the Catarman Cathedral at its heart, the town also serves as the province’s commercial hub and most populated municipality. But its geography—bordered by rivers, low-lying plains, and coastal areas—makes it highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
Catarman has long endured the destructive force of tropical cyclones, but recent years have seen flooding emerge as its top threat, worsened by climate change. “The devastating impact of Tropical Depression Usman in 2018 and the shear line event in November 2023, which claimed three lives, underscored the urgency of early warning systems and community evacuation protocols. Today, families in Catarman are more responsive, evacuating even at yellow alert levels thanks to community-based flood markers and improved communications,” according to Emerald Guevarra, head of Catarman’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
The Ligtas Kit has been pivotal in this shift. During the 2023 shear line event, it powered free charging and mobile load for responders unable to return home, helping them stay connected with their families and sustain morale. “Who will help the community if the responders are being left out?” Guevarra noted, emphasizing the need to care for frontliners during crises.
The kit enhances redundancy in communication, offering mobile phones, radio tools, internet access, satellite phones, and megaphones for worst-case scenarios. These ensure uninterrupted coordination and real-time updates even amid unstable signals or power outages.
“As telecom operators, we at PLDT and Smart are uniquely positioned to provide vital communications support in times of disaster—from promoting a culture of preparedness to helping communities recover. With the Ligtas Kits and Emergency Communications Training, we are working with our partners to ensure that no one gets left behind,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart.
The Ligtas Kit also empowers residents to monitor hazards. Locals send real-time updates and photos of rising river waters, enabling faster and more accurate assessments. This grassroots reporting, paired with reliable communications infrastructure, strengthens interoperability among agencies and supports data-driven disaster management.
This initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart advocacy, which promotes inclusive and sustainable communication technology to help communities reduce disaster risks. Through tools like the Ligtas Kit and emergency communications training, PLDT and Smart continue to support LGUs like Catarman in protecting lives and building resilience.
