COMMUNITY | ICT honors PLDT, Smart with ‘Bayani sa Last Mile’ award
The DICT said the award recognizes organizations that have supported the department’s key programs and initiatives over the past decade, including efforts to expand digital access and promote countryside development.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) honored PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications with the “Bayani sa Last Mile” award during the Digital Bayanihan Awards in Quezon City, recognizing the companies’ contributions to digital transformation and connectivity initiatives in underserved communities. The awards were presented as part of National ICT Month 2026 and the DICT’s 10th anniversary celebration.
The DICT said the award recognizes organizations that have supported the department’s key programs and initiatives over the past decade, including efforts to expand digital access and promote countryside development.
“We are deeply honored to have received this award from the DICT, which is a testament to what we can do together, hand-in-hand as steady partners in advancing the country’s digital agenda, enabling opportunities in education, livelihood and innovation,” said Menardo G. Jimenez Jr., PLDT chief operating officer and network head.
“We look forward to continuing our shared mission to continue connecting and empowering more Filipinos, including those in underserved communities, as we keep marching toward a digitally empowered Philippines where no one is left offline,” he added.
PLDT and Smart said they have partnered with the DICT on projects aimed at expanding connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Among the initiatives cited was the activation of a network site in San Vicente, Palawan, supporting the government’s Bayanihan SIM program. At Old Caruray Elementary School, the DICT and Smart distributed about 1,500 SIM cards with prepaid load to government-identified beneficiaries, including students. Under the program, beneficiaries receive 25 GB of mobile data each month for one year, with the service subsidized by the government.
The companies also cited the activation of 11 new network sites in Bohol to improve connectivity in the municipalities of Antequera and Maribojoc, which they said would support local industries and tourism.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is partially assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
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