Dennis Madera, a Network Engineer with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), took on the challenge when he worked to restore network services in Siargao Island even when his own family in Surigao City was affected by Super Typhoon Odette.

“I made sure my parents were ok before I left for Siargao. It’s not easy to leave them, but I wanted to help,” Madera shared, realizing the importance of restoring connectivity immediately. With additional volunteers arriving from Luzon beefing up Smart’s Emergency Response Team in the region, Madera gifted residents in one of the most heavily impacted areas with connectivity while he spent Christmas away from his family.

He added, “It was my first time to do restoration work after a typhoon. It was challenging because of the bad road conditions and limited trips to the islands, but we persevered. Our job is to provide connectivity so that the public can let their families know they are okay and, at the same time, ask for support. This is why our work is essential.”

After restoring services in Siargao and taking a day’s rest, Madera proceeded to the Dinagat Islands for more restoration work. He said, “As soon as we arrived, we saw that they were eagerly waiting for us to restore the signal. It was so rewarding to see their smiles when they could finally get in touch with their loved ones. Any tiredness we felt melted away when they thanked us.”

Being a relatively new employee, with two and a half years under his belt, Madera also considered the experience a great opportunity to expand his skills. “I learned a lot from my colleagues who have a lot more experience than I did.”

Smart’s Emergency Response Teams are immediately activated once a typhoon is monitored. Personnel, supplies and equipment are pre-positioned in strategic areas to enable quicker response and, if needed, immediate restoration. These actions form part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart program that promotes a culture of preparedness, provide immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services, and relief assistance to communities affected by disasters, and aid in recovery.

The programs in helping communities become more resilient in times of calamity are in line with the commitment of PLDT and Smart to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #11 of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by significantly reducing the number of people affected by disasters.