PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. expanded their network coverage in Cebu to further stimulate tourism and local livelihood in the province.
Among the areas that benefited from the recent rollout of additional sites is the municipality of Aloguinsan, where improved connectivity has been a boon to local tourism initiatives and small-scale entrepreneurs.
“We continue to invest in enhancing our integrated fixed and wireless networks across the country to keep families connected, enable livelihoods, boost the government’s nationwide digitalization thrust and deliver the best possible experience to our customers, wherever they may be in the country,” said Roderick Santiago, first vice president and deputy network head at PLDT and Smart.
Rudney Carcuevas, president of Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS), a longtime partner of Smart, highlighted the transformative impact of improved connectivity on their group’s tourism operations. “We used to have to hike to higher ground to get a signal. Now, managing bookings is much easier, and we no longer need to visit remittance centers for down payments since we can already access mobile payments here,” he said.