For over a decade, 30-year-old farmer Hamilyn Montejar has been helping residents in the mountain barangay of Kansumandig in La Libertad, Negros Oriental be connected to the rest of the world. Thanks to the presence of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) in their far-flung barangay, she was able to continue her loading business and be of help to many Smart subscribers in Kansumandig.

The increasing demand for prepaid load in their area motivated her to pursue being a Smart retailer fifteen years ago. “I was in high school when my mother told me to start a loading business. I am grateful for pursuing it as it became really helpful not just for my family but also to our community,” she shared, adding that this additional source of income even assisted her now that she has her own family.

With Kansumandig situated about 23 kilometers away from the town proper, communication and connectivity have been very essential for the town's residents, especially for farmers like Hamilyn. Smart’s coverage in their area also boosted her livelihood as she ventured into selling her farm produce online.

Recently, Hamilyn and other farmer-entrepreneurs in Kansumandig have participated in the Digital Literacy training conducted by PLDT and Smart in collaboration with Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK). In this training, farmers were introduced to the basics of smartphones, the internet, and photography, which gave Hamilyn more confidence to continue selling online and better serve her customers.

“As a parent, I am always driven to work hard to help provide for my children. Being a farmer and a Smart retailer at the same time has helped me secure their day-to-day needs. Thanks to Smart for being a reliable partner in helping me achieve my goals for our family,” she said.

PLDT and Smart’s efforts to provide communication and connectivity for all underscore their commitment to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG No. 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities.