PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have strengthened their partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Ormoc with their shared value programs to boost the city’s efforts on disaster resilience, education, and food security.

“We are one with LGU Ormoc City in its goal of uplifting the lives of Ormocanons through sustainable programs. Our support is just the start of more meaningful engagements in the future,” said Marylou Gocotano, Smart Stakeholder Management Visayas Relations Head.

Together with PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and Huawei Philippines, PLDT and Smart have donated three School-in-a-Bag (SIAB) packages to the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Ormoc City to elevate inclusive education through digital technology. These learning packages will be deployed to three mountain schools in Ormoc, namely Pedro G. Bañez National High School, L. Cabahug Elementary School, and Manlilinao Elementary School.

As part of the PLDT group’s #SafeandSmart advocacy, PLDT and Smart also turned over a Ligtas Kit unit to the Ormoc City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to support its disaster management programs. This all-in-one communication emergency package carries a power station, solar panel, rechargeable handy megaphone, crank radio, satellite phone with initial load, smartphone, Smart LTE pocket Wi-Fi, rechargeable flashlight, and whistle.

The group also distributed #PlantSmart kits to a hundred farmers and urban gardeners in coordination with the Ormoc City Agriculture Office. These planting kits, containing vegetable seeds, loam soil, and fertilizer, aim to provide more resources to their backyard gardens and can also be an additional source of income.

“I would like to thank the MVP Group for being a bearer of happiness and blessings for our city. In one go, the group has addressed three of the core programs of the local government in terms of development,” said Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez.

“As stewards of these blessings, we want to assure the group that we will do what we can to make all these programs progress and have an impact in the community. I thank PLDT and Smart for being our partners in development and progress,” she added.

Under the banner #PusongPLDTSmart, these programs align with the PLDT Group’s commitment to helping the country attain the United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG #2: Zero Hunger, SDG #4: Inclusive Quality Education, and SDG # 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.