Bontoc receives Ligtas Kit from PLDT, Smart

By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay and Shannon Anthea S. Pagaduan

BONTOC, Mountain Province – This capital town was one among only two municipalities in the Cordillera to receive Ligtas Kit, an all-in-one emergency communication package that provides quick, emergency communications support to people and communities in times of disaster.
    Packed in a protective hard case, the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit includes the following communications equipment: portable generator, satellite panel, satellite phone, smartphone, pocket WiFi, crank radio, flashlights and whistles to serve communication needs of Bontoc residents during disasters.
    Both the emergency communications equipment and learning session aims to help equip communities with knowledge and skills on disaster preparedness and emergency response.

Bontoc Mayor Jerome "Chagsen" Tudlong, Jr., expressed gratitude to the PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc., for choosing Bontoc as  beneficiary.

He said it was the first time the Bontoc local government owned a satellite phone and a portable charging port. 

He said the equipment would be a big help during emergency operations of the municipality.

The Bontoc LGU will take good care and put into good use the PLDT-Smart Ligtas Kit, he added.

"Emergencies frequently provide communication challenges. In the event of a power outage or signal loss, the Ligtas Kit's power supply and satellite phone will act as backups. This would also allow us to establish Libreng Tawag, which will let evacuees and victims of disaster connect with their loved ones and provide comfort during calamities,” Tudlong said.

Before the selection of Bontoc as a recipient of the Ligtas Kit, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna Padaen accepted the invitation of the PLDT and Smart in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation for her to attend the resiliency training and several communication learning sessions. 

Padaen, who was present during the turnover, said the kit would be helpful in bringing barangays of Bontoc together during calamities and facilitates easier access to requests to national and regional government agencies during disasters.

Present to turn over the Ligtas Kit to the Bontoc LGU were PLDT-Smart executive head -disaster resilience Mary Jane Francisco, PLDT-Smart Stakeholder management Specialist Abe Alombro, Smart Regional Customer Development -Luzon Kristopher Mamaril, and PLDT Customer delivery associate engineer Ronnie Ngolab.

The turnover of the Ligtas Kit was held August 17 at the Mayor's Office of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol. 

The other recipient from the Cordillera was the municipality of Kapangan.