PLDT, Smart join Tulong Kapatid quake relief drive

HELPING HAND Employee-volunteers from Smart Communications Inc. and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation distribute 300 gallons of distilled water at an evacuation center for residents affected by the earthquake in Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan, Cotabato province.
—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT, its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc., and PLDT-SMART Foundation (PSF) are joining relief efforts led by Tulong Kapatid for communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Mindanao.

Tulong Kapatid is the consortium of the foundations set up by companies led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

PLDT and Smart have deployed quick-response communications and relief assistance to affected residents in Cotabato.

PLDT  provided internet connectivity for the use of responders at the command center in Kidapawan City, while Smart set up free call stations at the municipal hall grounds in Tulunan, the Makilala town hall, as well as other sites in Kidapawan, Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

Smart also provided satellite emergency communications support, LTE pocket Wi-Fis, and mobile phone load to Philippine Red Cross responders.

For the local governments, the companies donated tents and old banners that may be used as makeshift shelters for the evacuees.

Employee-volunteers from Smart and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation also distributed 300 gallons of water at an evacuation center in Barangay Ilomavis in Kidapawan.

PSF brought relief packs containing rice, canned food and cereal drinks, plus hygiene kits for the evacuees.

For students, PSF volunteers handed out “Sacks of Joy,” or bags containing notebooks, pens, crayons and other school supplies.

Various companies under the Tulong Kapatid initiative have pooled their resources to bring food items, blankets, folding beds and solar lamps, among other relief items.

These companies include Maynilad Water Services Inc., which deployed a mobile treatment plant that can treat 7,000 gallons of water daily; One Meralco Foundation, which provided drinking water; Metro Pacific Investments Corp., table top water filters; Makati Medical Center Foundation, medical supplies and psychosocial materials; and Cignal TV, which donated tents to be used in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Tulong Kapatid, TV5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Miescor, Tzu Chi Foundation, Cebuana Lhuillier, Energy Development Corp., and other companies and organizations.