THE recent spate of earthquakes that affected various parts of the country underscored the need for preparedness especially for local government units.
Efforts to help improve the preparedness of LGUs on safety and emergency response through communications and digital solutions are being sustained by Smart Communications.
Together with parent PLDT, Smart has been actively coordinating with concerned groups to beef up the Digital Public Safety Emergency Response Systems designed to help LGUs level up their capabilities to respond quickly, efficiently, and accurately to emergency calls from within their city or municipality.
PLDT and Smart were represented at the recent General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, which gathered over 1,400 municipal mayors in the country, to showcase its various communications solutions to LGUs.
Smart also participated in the 10th Philippine Councilors League National Congress, where it highlighted its satellite communications solutions as the last line of communications during emergencies, particularly during disasters with scale and extent of damage similar to Typhoon Yolanda. Smart satellite services are deployed to areas where traditional fixed and mobile communications are not available or have been affected by natural and man-made disasters.
“To ensure connectivity even during the most challenging circumstances, we provide mobile and broadband satellite solutions to help our kababayans, particularly those in remote or isolated areas, to get the word out about their situation and seek immediate assistance,” said Joel S. Lumanlan, head of Smart’s Global Access and International Services.
Smart has been providing satellite services since 2001, and remains the only Philippine telecommunications company to provide mobile and broadband satellite services to date. It also provides thousands of Filipino seafarers worldwide with satellite-based services, including Marino Link Plus and Marino Phone Pal, which allow them to stay connected with their families even while at sea.
Smart’s mobile satellite solutions were very useful to the government, military and humanitarian organizations during Typhoon Yolanda. As an advocate of disaster preparedness, Smart has made its satellite solutions an integral component of all its preparedness and emergency response programs.