Providing relief to families who were devastated by the recent flash floods in Bataan, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart, together with the PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF), turned over some 750 bags of relief goods and 500 pouches of hygiene kits to the provincial government of Bataan thru its provincial social welfare development office (PSWDO).
The relief bags were distributed to 600 families whose houses were submerged at the height of the habagat floods. These houses are located in Barangay Cataning, Balanga City, and Mariveles. The bags contained food essentials like rice, coffee, canned goods, and other grocery items, while included in the hygiene kits are two washable face masks, alcohol, and bath soap. Also helping in the distribution of goods were PLDT and Smart employee volunteers.
Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia thanked PLDT and Smart thru PSF for their generosity amid the troubling times: “The City of Balanga would like to thank the PLDT-Smart Foundation for its kindness and compassion amidst the crisis, as they generously provided much needed relief packs that are essential to all the families affected by the recent habagat as well as the ongoing COVID pandemic.”
Mayor Garcia added that “Our utmost gratitude is extended, and cements even more our partnership and joint goals between organizations seeking to help and provide the best services to our people.”
The assistance to Bataan underscores the PLDT group’s core value of “malasakit”, which drives the company to assist where and when necessary, according to PSF President Ma. Esther Santos.
“It has always been part of our DNA to help and provide the essential needs of our disadvantaged fellowmen, especially in calamitous situations like the floods in Bataan,” added Santos, as she acknowledged “the huge support of our partners – PLDT and Smart – who readily contributed to the relief efforts.”
The flash floods were brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat, boosted by Typhoon Fabian (International name: In-fa) in late July, dumping heavy rains in some parts of the Philippines which caused widespread flooding in areas like Bataan.
This initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart advocacy, which promotes preparedness and immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services, mobile solutions, and activities, and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks. This also underscores the commitment of PLDT, Smart, and the PLDT-Smart Foundation to attaining the UNSDGs, particularly SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.