COMMUNITY | Empowering youth towards community resilience

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) continue to foster a culture of preparedness among the youth and empower them towards community resilience with the third leg of this year’s #SafePH Digital Caravan.

“We at PLDT and Smart have always recognized the youth’s critical role in any community, especially when faced with adversity, as they remain one of the most vulnerable. Yet we would like to highlight their piece of the puzzle, and empower them that they, too, play an important part in responding to and recovering from any disaster,” said Cathy Yang, first vice president and group head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.

Part of PLDT and Smart’s advocacy is to foster a culture of preparedness and community resilience through their #SafeandSmart campaign which includes the #SafePH Digital Caravan, among all members of the community, especially the youth, leaving no one behind.

For this session, the Department of Education (DepEd) Ormoc City, Leyte, shared their practices on effective disaster response and recovery that have contributed to making their city more sustainable and resilient.

“We believe that integrating standard operating procedures is critical during disasters. We must always prepare and plan ahead to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, teachers, and community members,” said Analiezel Villaver, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinator of DepEd Ormoc.

The #SafePH digital caravan covers discussions on emergency management, basic life support and first aid, and the COVID-19 and monkeypox health crises through gamified simulations of disaster scenarios, learning videos, and live discussions.

Attended by the DepEd Regional Offices in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, elementary and secondary schools in Pangasinan, Catanduanes, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao Del Norte, and Sarangani, the #SafePH Digital Caravan were able to reach more communities during the third leg of its implementation.

PLDT and Smart remain committed to helping build safe and smart communities through the #SafePH Digital Caravan, which aims to engage and mobilize the Filipino youth to help turn this goal into reality. This program is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

WATCH: TECHSABADO and ‘TODAY IS TUESDAY’ LIVESTREAM on YOUTUBE