PLDT Enterprise and Smart Communications are teaming up with People in Need (PIN), a global humanitarian organization, to boost disaster preparedness in Mindanao.
The partnership underlines a shared commitment to harnessing innovative technology to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the South, focusing on the Strengthening Resilience through Early Action and Impact Mitigation (STREAM) project.
STREAM, funded by the GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action and supported by the UK International Development of the British government, aims to revolutionize local impact forecasting and early warning systems in 12 municipalities in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
These areas, identified as high-risk for flooding, will benefit from the integration of PLDT and Smart’s advanced Smart Internet of Things (IoT) SIM and Smart Messaging Suite.
“Our partnership with People in Need is more than just a technological endeavor; it’s a commitment to safeguarding communities and empowering them with the tools they need to mitigate the impact of natural calamities,” said Roberto Suzon, head of PLDT Enterprise corporate relationship business for Northern Mindanao said.
“By leveraging PLDT’s reliable fiber connectivity and Smart’s cutting-edge solutions, we are setting a new standard in disaster preparedness and resilience,” Suzon said.
The Smart IoT SIMs will be instrumental in remotely monitoring water levels in flood-prone areas, ensuring timely data transmission to PIN’s servers for accurate forecasting.
Meanwhile, the Smart Messaging Suite will play a crucial role in disseminating vital information and evacuation alerts to vulnerable communities, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to imminent threats.
“With the support of PLDT Enterprise and Smart, we are poised to make a significant impact on the lives of those in the most at-risk communities in Mindanao,” said Alfred Mark Rosete, Early Warning Systems program manager of PIN.
“The STREAM project embodies our vision of a world where technology and innovation go hand in hand with humanitarian efforts to build a safer, more resilient future for all,” he said.
Smart also recently engaged with PIN during the GSMA’s Humanitarian Connectivity Charter (HCC) Asia-Pacific workshops held in Clark, Pampanga, attended by ASEAN delegates. Smart was among the first operators in the world to adopt the principles of the HCC, when it was launched in 2015.
The HCC is a set of principles and best practices reached collaboratively among mobile network operators (MNOs) on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a sudden onset emergency.