PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) organized the second run of its #SafePH Digital Caravan, to help strengthen the disaster preparedness mindset among local community youth from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The second #SafePH digital caravan covered discussions on emergency management, basic life support, first aid, and the COVID-19 and monkeypox health crises. The session also included gamified simulations of disaster scenarios, learning videos, and live discussions to help engage the audience more, especially the youth.
“We, at PLDT and Smart, recognize the role of the youth in strengthening one’s sense of community, especially when faced with adversity. With the #SafePH digital caravan, we aim to engage the youth by helping them understand and play their part in helping their own communities. We also aim to empower them through capacity-building activities like this one, and eventually for them to pay it forward,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and Head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
As the country regularly faces natural calamities due to its geography and topography, both the public and private sectors have worked double time to help strengthen community resilience among Filipinos.
“Our strong partnership with various sectors, barangays, national, and local government agencies have provided us an avenue to develop, expand and multiply ourselves so we can reach everyone who needs our help,” said Janet V. Gendrano, Chief of Lucena’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
With the #SafePH digital caravan, PLDT and Smart aim to reach all corners of the Philippines, especially towns and cities that are most vulnerable to disasters, underscoring the importance of nurturing a culture of preparedness among locals, including the young generation. With today’s youth already a force to reckon with, PLDT and Smart prioritize their engagement in advocacies.
Among the local communities that participated in this particular digital caravan were Camarines Sur, Quezon, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao del Norte, Bukidnon, Siargao, Davao del Sur, and Misamis Occidental.
The #SafePH digital caravan underscores PLDT and Smart’s long-standing commitment to building a smarter and more resilient Philippines by instilling a culture of preparedness among communities, to help mitigate risks during and after disasters. This is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), specifically #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
