The city government of General Santos has developed an online monitoring system for COVID-19 with the support of ACLC College and PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.
The local government unit has been using the Smart Infocast platform to broadcast text updates to city officials and employees, health workers, and barangay and police authorities.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, the LGU is also using Smart Infocast to disseminate important information and advisories and receive feedback and reports from its constituents regarding the disease.
Smart Infocast is a web-based broadcast solution that can send out text messages or short message service (SMS) alerts to registered mobile users.
To enhance the online monitoring system, Smart has optimized LTE connectivity in sites near GenSan’s identified COVID-19 data centers, which are located at various rural health units, checkpoints, and transport hubs.
These areas include Barangays Apopong, Calumpang, Bula, Lagao, Tinagacan, Fatima, San Isidro, West, Tambler, Labangal, and Mabuhay, Buayan, Bawing; and the city health office, Bulaong terminal, seaport or pantalan, and airport.
The company has also provided LTE SIMs and data credits for use of health workers at the LGU’s COVID-19 data centers.
The public, meanwhile, may avail of free Smart Wi-Fi at the airport and bus terminals, as well as the city health office and St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Mobile users are also encouraged to stay updated on the latest information online with the help of Smart LTE. They may upgrade their SIMs to LTE for free at selected sites near the COVID-19 data centers.