“I am truly grateful to all Smart frontliners for doing their best in restoring services in our area, as these efforts keep our loading business going after Odette,” he said.  “It gives us so much joy to be able to help Odette victims reconnect with their loved ones, and at the same time, help my family recover from the typhoon’s devastation.”
 
As a Smart retailer, Pacatua managed to open one of his stores the day after Odette made landfall, serving many affected residents.  Aside from essential goods, he sold SIM cards, helping people regain access to Smart’s services and let their families know they’re safe. Days after, he was able to resume loading services, assisting more customers in his two sari-sari stores, his main sources of income. 

For over a decade, Smart has been of great help to him and his family, and Odette had proven Smart is a reliable partner even in calamities.  PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart advocacy promotes preparedness and immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services, and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks.