PLDT
wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has enhanced its network
services in Ormoc City to support its local government's campaign, led by Mayor
Richard Gomez, against COVID-19.
After
launching Ormoc’s Covid Ligtas Center located in Brgy Dolores last
May 20, the Ormoc City LGU has quarantined over 700 returnees and Covid
patients, according to Mayor Gomez. "Connectivity is very
important, especially for our fellow Ormocanons who are at the isolation area
in Brgy Dolores," he said, adding that technology and connectivity are
also vital to their overall Covid-19 response.
Smart has rolled out Multi-Element On Wheels (MEOW) equipment at the city’s
COVID-19 quarantine facility to ensure that persons isolated there can stay in
touch with their families.
"Ormoc
City is also maximizing the use of technology and connectivity amid Covid-19.
We use it in communicating with our people in our offices, with the Covid
Ligtas Center, and the port areas and airports in Tacloban. We are also able to
disseminate vital information to our people, making our work easier, faster and
more efficient," the Mayor added.
Previously,
Smart also extended communications assistance for Ormoc’s COVID-19 efforts by
donating load SIM cards, Smart Bro pocket wifi units and COVID-19 Advisory and
Awareness signage. This also includes support for Ormoc's Mental Health and
Psychosocial Support Services or Lamdag Ormoc under the City Health Department.
"We
are grateful for the opportunity to support local governments like Ormoc City
in their fight against the virus,” said Jane Basas, SVP and Head of
Consumer Wireless Business at Smart. “We have been doing this by ensuring that
their COVID-19 facilities are equipped with reliable connectivity, enabling
them to better care for their constituents during these trying times,” she
added.
"We
mobilized our network field personnel in compliance with the government’s
quarantine protocols, following border controls and obtaining medical
clearances, to provide connectivity at the Covid Ligtas Center,"
said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT-Smart senior vice president for Network
Planning and Engineering.
COVID-19
assistance
This is
the latest in PLDT-Smart’s ongoing efforts to provide communications support to
local government units, frontline agencies and their personnel amid the
nationwide COVID-19 response.
PLDT-Smart
have likewise extended communications assistance to various LGUs, the
Department of Health, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine
General Hospital, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the
Department of Transportation by donating SIMS, load cards, smartphones and
Wi-Fi kits to provide for the connectivity of their frontliners, among
others.
It also
previously rolled out MEOW equipment at the San Lazaro Hospital, one of the
DOH's primary COVID-19 facilities in Manila, to augment its network services in
the hospital. (PR)
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