The municipality of Kapangan, Benguet has strengthened its disaster preparedness efforts through the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit, enabling faster emergency coordination and helping sustain a zero-casualty record during disasters.
Located in the mountainous province of Benguet, Kapangan has long faced threats from landslides, earthquakes, and road blockages brought about by severe weather. Remote barangays, many of which are located in mobile signal dead spots, often became isolated during emergencies, delaying the delivery of warnings and critical assistance.
According to Erick Abangley, Kapangan’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (LDRRMO), reliable communication has significantly improved the municipality’s ability to respond to emergencies.
“Consistent na nag-zero casualty or zero dead sa amin,” Abangley said. “Kasi at least mayroon kami yung Ligtas Kit, malaking tulong na yan para ma-meet natin yung zero casualty sa aming bayan.”
Kapangan became one of the first local government units to receive the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit in 2024.
The emergency communications package includes a dedicated mobile phone, megaphones, crank radio, whistles, flashlights, portable power station, solar panel, and emergency communication training. The municipality uses the bundled mobile phone as its dedicated disaster hotline, allowing responders to coordinate with barangays, gather reports, and disseminate warnings more efficiently.
“Yung unang-una po kasi wala po kami ng hotline noon. Kaya noong nakita namin at least nabigyan kami ng hotline,” Abangley said. “Yun ang mostly ginagamit namin for reporting, data gathering, and coordination with the barangays.”
The kit forms part of PLDT and Smart’s #KonnektedforResilience initiative, which promotes disaster preparedness through communication tools and capacity-building programs before, during, and after emergencies.
To date, 75 Ligtas Kits have been deployed across the country, benefiting communities from Batanes to Pag-asa Island and Jolo.
With the Ligtas Kit supporting Kapangan’s Emergency Operations Center, disaster response has become more organized and efficient. Early warnings now reach barangays more quickly, allowing authorities to implement preemptive evacuations and coordinate emergency operations even during power outages.
“Number one yung communication namin, coordination with the barangays, implementing our preemptive enforced evacuation, at yung mga megaphone for giving warnings sa community,” Abangley said.
He emphasized that disaster resilience begins with preparation even before storms arrive.
“Bago dumating yung bagyo, dapat tayo ay nakapaghanda na. Alamin natin kung saan yung mga hazard or risk areas,” he said.
PLDT and Smart said the initiative reflects their broader commitment to strengthening disaster resilience among local government units through dependable communication solutions.
“Through solutions like the Ligtas Kit, we empower communities with critical communication capabilities that enable faster response and better coordination in times of crisis. We remain committed to supporting efforts that help build a safer and more resilient Philippines,” said Roby Alampay, First Vice President and Head of the Public Engagement Group at PLDT and Smart.
For Kapangan, where severe weather remains a recurring challenge, stronger communication systems have become a vital part of protecting lives and ensuring communities are prepared whenever disasters strike.