Communication services, technological innovations, and partnerships with various organizations — these factors have helped communities all over the Philippines bolster disaster preparedness and response efforts.

As part of Smart Communications’ (Smart) #SafePH advocacy, the company ensured the availability and quick restoration of its services in areas hit by calamities. These areas include Albay, which was affected by the Mayon Volcano activity recently; Benguet and other provinces in the Northern Luzon, which were affected by Typhoon “Ompong” (Mangkhut) and “Rosita” (Yutu); and other areas all over the country that experienced heavy rains, strong winds, and floods.

In areas where communication services were limited because of damage to infrastructure and power lines, Smart offered free calls, charging and Wi-Fi services to affected residents as well as to responders.

Smart also forged cooperation with international organizations to further enhance its emergency communications services and enable these solutions to serve more communities.

Emergency solutions

When Ompong hit Northern Luzon that caused a landslide in Benguet, Vodafone Foundation teamed up with Smart to provide emergency solutions for those affected by the typhoon. Smart and Vodafone set up free charging and Wi-Fi stations at the command center and the retrieval site in Itogon for the use of both responders, evacuees and family members of landslide victims.

Nokia also tapped Smart to be its connectivity partner for a program that employs drones and network solutions for disaster response. The Nokia Saving Lives program seeks to provide communications technology and technical assistance to emergency response teams. In the Philippines, Smart will provide high-speed connectivity to the drone system to help boost the disaster response efforts of the Philippine Red Cross.

For its pioneering and collaborative system, the Nokia Saving Lives project received funding from GSMA, the organization representing mobile operators globally. Early this year, GSMA selected Nokia Saving Lives as a recipient of its Humanitarian Innovation Grant.

On the local front, Smart joined forces with the academe and local government units to help bring disaster preparedness closer to the youth. Through its TNT brand, Smart brought its Tropang Ready disaster preparedness caravans to more state colleges and universities all over the country. TNT Tropang Ready aims to train the youth and their friends on disaster preparedness. With their agility and technological know-how, the youth are best suited to mobilize their communities in times of calamities.

Community engagement

The Tropang Ready program recently won in the Community Engagement category at the Golden World Awards, which recognizes public relations practices that meet international standards of excellence.

Since 2016, the TNT Tropang Ready program has covered more than 10,000 students and school personnel in more than 10 state colleges and universities nationwide. Joining the roster of Tropang Ready schools this year are the following universities: Holy Name University in Tagbilaran, Bohol; University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City; Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte, and Mindanao State University in Marawi City. The students were trained to cascade their learnings to their extension communities, bringing the lessons to more residents and amplifying its benefits.

Smart also extended support during nationwide earthquake drills by providing various emergency communications facilities, allowing residents and responders to experience first-hand the solutions that are available to them as the need arises. The drills were held in
Davao City, Rizal, and San Mateo, and in various locations all over Metro Manila.

As Filipinos gear up for 2019, Smart also recognizes the importance of being prepared for the year ahead. Smart continues to ensure the reliability of its services and, in times of distress, offer communications as a relief, as part of its commitment to a #SafePH.