BY ALEX ALAGON
Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. Paolo Tancontian receives the DSA-SDD Sports Heroes Night Male Award on behalf of his son Chino from PSC Commissioner Walter Torres and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. (DSA)
Davao City – Chino and Sydney Tancontian were named DSA (Davao Sportswriters Association)-Southern Sports Digest Sports Heroes of the year held Saturday, 12 September at the Rogen Inn.
Sydney Sy Tancontian earned the female award for her distinguished performance in the sport of Sambo.
Sydney, 26, won the gold DSL Dutch Sambo Open last March 8, 2025 held at Dalfsen, Netherlands. She also pocketed the gold in the USA Open International Sambo Cup last April 4, 2025 at Atlanta, Georgia in USA and the Asia & Oceania Sambo Championship last April 14, 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Younger brother Chino, on the other hand, got the male award this time in Judo. He won the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last, December 13, 2025 beating Indonesia’s Gede Ganding Kalbu Soethama with a perfectly timed throw.
The 25-year-old Chino also bagged the gold medals in the 51st All Japan Sambo Championship last February 1, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan and the USA Open International Sambo Cup last April 4, 2025 in Atlanta.
“I’m very proud of Sydney and Chino,” said father Paolo Tancontian, president of Philippine Sambo Federation Inc., who personally received the plaques from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and PSC Commissioner Walter Francis Torres.
Junior golfer Zoey Behati Ruiz Mascarinas and gymnast Zoey Jhanine Sangutan were named co-Rising Athletes of the Year for their respective feats.
The eight-year-old Mascariñas brought the city’s name in the international stage after winning the 2026 Superkit Junior Elite Tour Philippines at the Apo Golf and Country Club and a top five finish in the 2026 Under Armour Junior World Golf Championships at the Reunion Resort Golf Course in Orlando, Florida.
Sangutan won four golds and first place in the Individual all-around in the 14th Bangkok Gymnastics Invitational and bagged another four golds in the Shanghai Gymnastics Club International in China.
Meanwhile, basketball mentor Jess Linus Evangelio was named as the Coach of the Year for steering the 2025 DAVRAA boys team.
The other major awards:
NSA of the Year – Davao Archery Club
Sports Leader – PSC Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio
Sports Team – 2025 DAVRAA boy’s basketball team
By Jon Develos
From left: CJ Villaester (Manager, AHA! Behavioral Design) Marie Angeles, Executive Director, and Christian Tandoy, Assistant Manager of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines, Lei Ramos (Principal & CMO, AHA! Behavioral Design), receive the 2026 Outstanding CSR Project for Health award at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards for RMHC Philippines’ BACK-to-BAKuna initiative.
MANILA — Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines’ flagship community health initiative, BACK-to-BAKuna, has been recognized as the 2026 Outstanding CSR Project for Health at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards, honoring its innovative approach to improving childhood immunization completion.
BACK-to-BAKuna addresses a critical challenge in routine childhood immunization: while many families begin vaccination, some struggle to complete the required doses due to missed schedules, concerns, and logistical barriers. The program strengthened existing public vaccination services by introducing behavior-based solutions that help caregivers remember schedules, prepare for visits, seek support, and return until completion. Piloted in Iloilo City and the Municipality of Janiuay in August 2025, the initiative combined behavioral research, community collaboration, and practical tools such as group vaccine cards, milestone calendars, digital reminders, transport support, and health promotion activities.
Using a quasi-experimental approach, BACK-to-BAKuna demonstrated significant improvements in vaccination completion, with intervention groups showing greater gains compared to control groups. Findings also showed that caregivers who engaged peers, invited others, and attended vaccination activities together were more likely to complete their children’s vaccination schedules.
“The recognition of BACK-to-BAKuna reflects our commitment to creating meaningful and sustainable solutions that respond to the real needs of Filipino families. By helping caregivers overcome barriers and supporting them throughout their children’s vaccination journey, we are able to strengthen community health outcomes and help more children receive the protection they need,” said Marie Angeles, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines.
The program’s innovation lies in recognizing that improving health outcomes requires more than access to services — it requires understanding and supporting the behaviors that influence follow-through.
By addressing barriers beyond the first vaccine visit, BACK-to-BAKuna helped transform vaccination access into completed childhood protection. To sustain its impact, RMHC Philippines partnered with local government units to integrate the program’s tested tools and approaches into existing immunization workflows. Through capacity-building support and an Adaptation Playbook, local health teams are equipped to continue applying the approach within routine health promotion activities.
The LCF CSR Guild Awards recognizes organizations that demonstrate excellence in corporate citizenship through impactful and sustainable social development initiatives. This recognition affirms RMHC Philippines’ commitment to creating healthier communities and helping more Filipino children receive complete protection through timely vaccination.
Along with many different fields and industries, AI is rapidly transforming classrooms worldwide. It raises an important question for schools: how can technology enhance education while keeping critical thinking, creativity, and human connection at the heart of learning?
For the University of Santo Tomas (UST), one of the country’s top universities with over four centuries of academic tradition, the answer lies in empowering teachers first.
By integrating Gemini for Education across its campus ecosystem, UST is modernizing how its faculty teaches and how its 46,000-strong student body learns across 22 degree-granting academic units.
UST’s digital transformation with Google started with the adoption of Google Workspace for Education, but the leap forward came with the campus-wide rollout of generative AI tools like Gemini and Gemini Notebook.
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for traditional teaching, UST approached it as an enhancement. Led by its Educational Technology Center (EdTech), the university trained over 2,000 faculty members to use AI purposefully in their specific disciplines.
To ensure smooth adoption, 45 e-learning specialists embedded across various colleges help tailor AI tools to local classroom needs, supported by more than 300 Google Certified Educators.
“At the Educational Technology Center, our mandate is to integrate technology tools for teaching, learning, research, and community service,” explained Asst. Prof. April Joy M. Gascon, Acting Director of the UST EdTech Center. “Each of our e-learning specialists brings their own stories and contexts on how technology best serves their specific discipline.”
To guide this transition safely, UST established clear guidelines for responsible AI use, ensuring technology supports—rather than compromises—academic integrity and ethical values.
Inside UST classrooms, AI is not a one-size-fits-all tool. Instead, educators use Gemini to make complex subjects clearer, visually engaging, and interactive.
For example, in nursing, the faculty generate realistic patient-care scenarios to help students practice emergency decision-making before entering real hospital settings. Meanwhile, in architecture, students and professors use AI visualization to turn architectural concepts into realistic renders reflecting vernacular Philippine design.
In engineering courses, teachers create dynamic visual representations of complex mathematical formulas to help visual learners grasp spatial coordinates easily. And in Theology classes, students use Gemini Notebook to synthesize dense historical and philosophical texts, saving hours of reading prep so classroom time can focus on rich, faculty-led discussions on ethics and human values.
“Ever since we started using Google AI, classroom dynamics have changed for the better because students can now demonstrate their learning in transformative ways,” said Shane Alexander Y. Laong, Team Leader for E-Learning Specialists at UST.
“When Gemini Notebook was integrated, it definitely lessened the workload for both teachers and students, allowing them to turn mountains of literature into flashcards, quizzes, and review materials that make learning more engaging.”
From lecturers to learning designers: more time for what matters
One of the greatest benefits of AI in education is time saved on repetitive administrative prep. By using Gemini to draft lesson plans, design rubrics, and generate visual guides, UST educators are stepping out from behind the podium and into mentor roles.
Instead of spending hours recreating slide decks each semester, faculty spend quality time conducting face-to-face mentorship, providing personalized feedback, and building meaningful connections with their students.
“I strongly encourage my fellow educators to set aside their fears of AI. Understand what it does, understand its impact on instruction, and redesign teaching to make it more purposeful and relevant for students,” said Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.
“We aim to produce Thomasian graduates who are future-ready, competent, committed, and compassionate—empowered to use critical thinking, problem-solving, and AI ethically and responsibly.”
Watch this YouTube video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y_wcf8XrmQ&t=1s
Manila — HUAWEI changes the way modern users work, play, and create with the all-new HUAWEI MatePad Air, bringing together a remarkable screen, PC-level AI productivity, and powerful performance in an ultra-thin and lightweight design. Built for modern professionals, entrepreneurs, and creators, the latest addition to the HUAWEI MatePad series gives users the flexibility to work, learn, create, and manage everyday tasks wherever they are.
The all-new HUAWEI MatePad Air is now available for pre-order in the Philippines starting September 11, 2026, giving users the chance to experience a smarter and more versatile way to work and create.
See Every Detail Better with the World’s Best Screen[1]
The HUAWEI MatePad Air boasts the world’s best screen[2] with its 12-inch 2.8K Ultra-Clear OLED screen and PaperMatte Display, giving users a larger canvas for productivity, creativity, and entertainment. For JC Cerezo, a remote sales trainer and founder of The Parliament, the biggest remote sales community in the Philippines, the HUAWEI MatePad Air’s screen makes it a truly productivity device. “The display matters because we’re not just watching videos, we’re also reading, writing, presenting, and working for long hours,” he said.
The screen features an ultra-slim 4.69mm bezel, which creates a more immersive viewing experience while giving users like content creator and Brew&Co MNL founder Mika Leetong more room to work with their content. With a 144Hz refresh rate, up to 1,200 nits peak brightness, and a P3 cinema-grade color gamut, the OLED display delivers sharper details, smoother visuals, and vibrant, more lifelike colors to enhance the visual experience crucial for professionals who also create content, like Leetong. “Usually, I draw or doodle effects (when I edit content), and I get to be able to do that easily with the HUAWEI MatePad Air,” she said. “Even if you’re looking at it in outdoor or indoor settings, even if the change in setting is sudden, the visuals remain clear.
The HUAWEI MatePad Air’s display also features HUAWEI’s signature PaperMatte Display technology, which not only enhances the writing or drawing experience but also protects users’ eye health. Using a high-level precision nano-level etching process, the screen is designed to minimize glare and reflections while maintaining a more natural, paper-like view and feel. According to Cerezo, the glare-free, eye-friendly screen makes a meaningful difference for when he spends long hours working. “Because it reduces glare and reflections, there’s less eye strain when I’m reviewing decks, documents, and content for long hours,” he claimed.
Get More Done with AI Productivity Experience
The HUAWEI MatePad Air breaks boundaries, bringing together PC-level productivity enhanced by AI in a sleek, portable device. This enables users and modern professionals to handle demanding tasks, develop ideas, and manage dense files wherever their day takes them. “Before, my biggest challenge was balancing portability and productivity,” shared Cerezo. “With the HUAWEI MatePad Air, I get a lighter setup that can still handle documents, presentations, meetings, and content work, (so) I can stay productive while carrying something lighter.”
A key part of the productivity experience is the PC-Level WPS Office Suite, which brings familiar office tools to the HUAWEI MatePad Air. The productivity apps are now integrated with AI capabilities to help make workflows become more efficient than ever. Cerezo found the WPS AI PDF Reading feature helpful for summarizing lengthy documents, while he uses text optimization to refine or shorten drafts. The PPT generation makes creating decks and presentations more efficient than ever, helpfully turning ideas or source materials into presentations. He also finds the Excel Chart creation feature useful for converting data into visual charts. Cerezo said these AI-powered tools help professionals who manage multiple responsibilities shift time away from repetitive tasks and information processing to focus on strategic execution.
The HUAWEI MatePad Air also uses AI to support more efficient information capture through the HUAWEI Notes app. Cerezo said the app’s AI speech-to-text functionality, which can convert recorded discussions into text, helps him better capture ideas discussed during meetings or brainstorming sessions. For Leetong, the HUAWEI Notes app eases the load of managing her daily tasks. “One of the things I really appreciate is how it makes things easier. It easily gets the things that I usually spend too much time on done quickly.” The AI-driven HUAWEI Notes also allows users to easily solve math equations instantly without having to turn to a calculator or another app.
Both Cerezo and Leetong claimed that HUAWEI’s practical approach to AI makes it useful for real-world situations. “It really saves me a lot of time, especially on repetitive tasks,” said Leetong.
Set Up Your 4-in-1 Productivity Workspace Anywhere
To take the productivity experience even further, the HUAWEI MatePad Air is built to go beyond the tablet experience with a 4-in-1 productivity bundle featuring NearLink accessories that elevate workflows. Paired with the HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard, Mouse, and M-Pencil Pro, the HUAWEI MatePad Air easily transforms into a portable workstation fit for writing, editing documents, preparing presentations, and managing everyday tasks. The keyboard supports desktop-level shortcut combinations and two viewing angles, delivering a satisfying, low-latency experience.
For Cerezo, the keyboard adds to the productivity experience, giving the setup a PC-like workflow without the added bulk. Meanwhile, the seamless connection and compact size were standouts for Leetong. “It’s compact, the size is really perfect, but at the same time, I get to do everything I need to do,” she stated. At just 308g, the keyboard adds functionality without taking away from the HUAWEI MatePad Air’s portability.
Leetong also said that the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro enhances her content creation, making the device more versatile than ever. Professionals like Leetong and Cerezo enjoy an enhanced creating and writing experience, thanks to the stylus’ over 16,000 pressure sensitivity levels and specialized tips, which offer the precision needed for both detailed creative work and everyday note-taking. “I do content creation too, so I really love the stylus. I get to draw, I get to sketch, take notes,” she remarked. “Sometimes when we do pop-ups, I also do the mock-ups of the design booths. I also draw to my staff, sometimes, to show them how I want the set-up to look.”
With Air Mouse, the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro offers added convenience when presenting, allowing users to turn PPT pages and use the laser pointer remotely, making it a practical and versatile tool for presentations. These NearLink accessories enable the HUAWEI MatePad Air to adapt to different workflows, from working and creating, to note-taking, for a complete productivity experience all in one device. “These accessories make the HUAWEI MatePad Air a portable workstation, ideal for professionals who require a device for work and entertainment,” said Cerezo.
Take Your Productivity Everywhere with an Ultra-Thin, Lightweight Device Built to Last
The HUAWEI MatePad Air’s powerful capabilities are housed in a slim, lightweight body that measures just 5.3mm and weighs just 509g. Its ultra-thin profile is complemented by a sturdy build designed to withstand the unexpected with little to no bend, giving users added confidence as they take the device from one workspace to another. The lightweight design is one of the device’s immediate advantages for Cerezo. “It’s easy to bring to meetings, cafes, shoots, events, and other workspaces,” he said. “Even with the full setup, it only weighs around 870g, so that’s less than 1kg.”
Aside from its lightweight form, the HUAWEI MatePad Air also features a distinctively elegant design, which Leetong claimed is one of the features of the device that caught her eye. Available in Airy Blue, the HUAWEI MatePad Air comes with a Pearlescent Sheen, made through an e-coating process to create a smooth, refined surface with a subtle shimmery effect that shifts with the light. The process also enhances the device’s durability, enhancing its resistance to corrosion, sweat, and fading, so the HUAWEI MatePad Air maintains its refined finish even as it moves with users through their daily routines.
The device’s contoured edges add to its portability, providing a comfortable grip. At the back of the HUAWEI MatePad Air is an iconic Star Ring camera design, giving the device a more fluid appearance.
Conquer the Most Demanding Days with Long-Lasting Battery and Massive Storage
Despite its slim profile, the HUAWEI MatePad Air is equipped to support the most demanding days. Its massive 10,100mAh battery provides the power needed to get through the long days of productivity, creativity, and entertainment, supporting up to 18 hours of HDR video playback. When users need to quickly recharge, the 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo replenished the power in just 30 minutes. This helps minimize interruptions, especially on days when users are moving between meetings, brainstorming sessions, and other heavy-duty tasks.
To ensure the tablet is fully equipped to support users’ various workflows, the HUAWEI MatePad Air carries 12GB of physical RAM and 256GB of storage, with an additional 8GB of virtual memory through HUAWEI’s virtual memory expansion technology, making the HUAWEI MatePad Air fully capable of handling multiple applications and files. Additionally, its 3D heat dissipation architecture helps manage heat efficiently, supporting stable performance as users move between demanding workflows. With Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, the HUAWEI MatePad Air is ready to deliver fast and responsive wireless connections, ideal for today’s connected work and entertainment experiences.
Experience More with the HUAWEI MatePad Air
Get ready to discover a portable productivity experience like never before with the HUAWEI MatePad Air. Pre-order the HUAWEI MatePad Air for less at PHP 59,999 from PHP 64,999. Enjoy more savings when you grab worth PHP 5,000, available exclusively on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok. Vouchers worth PHP 6,500 are also available via the HUAWEI Online Store.
From September 11-17, you can pre-order the HUAWEI MatePad Air and get an exclusive freebie bundle worth up to PHP 33,886. This bundle includes a free HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard (worth PHP 7,999), a One-year WPS AI Membership (worth PHP 7,000), PC-Level WPS Office suite (worth PHP 4,999), Bluetooth Mouse (worth PHP 1,899), and a bag (worth PHP 1,990). Purchase the HUAWEI MatePad Air using select bank credit or debit cards and enjoy 0% installment promo for up to 24 months.
To learn more, visit your nearest HUAWEI Experience Store or check out HUAWEI’s official social media pages (Facebook | Instagram).
- PWD killed in noontime Obrero fire
A 21-year-old person with disability (PWD) died after he was trapped inside a burning house along Del Pilar Street in Barrio Obrero, Davao City, on Monday afternoon, Sept. 14.
Emergency responders from the Metro Davao United Fire and Rescue Inc. first reported the fire alarm shortly after it broke out past noon.
Initially, 15 houses were reported to be hit by the fire, which also injured two women, a 21-year-old and a 23-year-old. They sustained minor abrasions and burn wounds, while one of the victims also had a swollen ankle.
Heartbreaking scenes at the site showed family members weeping as firefighters battled the blaze.
Alias Ana, the victim’s sibling, could only grieve helplessly outside the house after failing to rescue her younger brother from the quickly spreading flames.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze from spreading to neighboring residential structures in the dense Obrero neighborhood.
As of press time, the Davao City Fire District (DCFD) has yet to release the official identity of the victim, the estimated damage to property, and the cause of the fire. Arson investigators were on the scene to conduct on-site clearing operations.
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao is pushing film and digital content in the city’s UNESCO Creative City bid.
Romel Aquino, DTI Davao focal person for creatives, said this is the main focus for this month’s celebration of Philippine Creative Industries Month under DTI’s Malikhaing Pinoy.
The two-day “Creative Exchange 2026: Reel Stories Unveiling Davao’s Culture and Heritage through Film and Digital Content” will happen on September 24-25.
DTI Davao has opened 20 free slots for the upcoming Impact Writing Workshop to freelance digital creators, independent filmmakers, and students from local schools offering multimedia arts programs.
The creative exchange is in partnership with the Davao City Office for the Culture and the Arts, Davao Historical Society and Cinematheque Centre Davao, and the Davao City Inventions and Innovations Council.
Aquino said this year’s workshop theme is anchored on Davao’s culture, heritage, and customs, in line with the city’s push to gain international recognition for its cultural identity.
“Yun ang aim natin sa ating creative bid to the UNESCO, to be known for our culture and customs here in Davao City,” he said.
Aquino said DTI is coordinating with the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center to shape local policy direction.
He said DTI’s roadmap for the creative sector centers on formalizing informal creative practitioners into registered businesses and promoting intellectual property registration to protect creative works and their creators.
“Dun magfo-focus ang DTI, yung pag-boost ng local economy [at] pag-promote ng ating intellectual property registration para sa mga business na under creatives,” Aquino said.
The free impact writing workshop aims to increase awareness among filmmakers to craft powerful, resonant scripts for short films, digital content, and advocacy materials inspired by local culture and heritage.
Meanwhile, it will also incorporate animation and digital production insights, including industry trends for animated films and digital media.
Meanwhile, the Cinematheque Centre Davao program is holding free film screenings throughout September in observance of both Creative Industries Month and Philippine Film Industry Month.
The lineup began with pre-war Philippine films, including the restored Ibong Adarna; classics from the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema: among them Insiang, “Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon?,” “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” and “Manila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag,” marking the movement’s 50th anniversary.
From Sept. 18 to 21, Cinematheque will screen entries to the Philippine Film Industry Month Short Film Competition, including “Sikwate: Worm with Illness“ by Davao filmmaker Frankie Aroccena, alongside the Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, which includes “Asa Mutugpa and Paglupad?” by University of the Philippines Mindanao Emmanuel Pamaylaon, among others.
Cinematheque will host the DTI-led Creative Exchange forum on Sept. 24 and 25, and will close out the month-long celebration with the Films for Peace competition screening on Sept. 28.
Screenings are held daily at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis.
14 September 2026. As voting is underway for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, the joint Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) continues to closely monitor developments across the region through the deployment of international election observers, media and online reports, and sustained engagement with a diversity of stakeholders.
The ANFREL-NDI mission is gravely concerned about the rapid and widespread escalation of violence surrounding the BARMM Parliamentary Elections, and urgently calls on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, refrain from any further acts of violence, and allow the people of the Bangsamoro to freely participate in the region’s historic first elections.
In light of the developing security situation, the joint TAM further calls on the COMELEC and the concerned security authorities to provide timely and regular public information on conditions in affected areas. The public should be clearly informed whether voting can safely continue, what measures are being taken to protect voters, Electoral Board members and support staff, and what arrangements are being made for the voting centers affected by the delays or disruptions.
From the eve of the elections through mid-day on Election Day, September 14, several shooting and explosive incidents were reported in Cotabato City, leaving three dead and more than a dozen wounded. Following the opening of polls, further instances of gunfire, violence, and intimidation were reported in Cotabato City, as well as in parts of Basilan and Maguindanao del Sur. The security situation remains volatile, but voting continues and the determination of the Bangsamoro people to exercise their democratic rights remains evident.
The immediate priority must be to prevent further loss of life and ensure that violence does not undermine the hard-won gains of the Bangsamoro peace process. These elections are an important milestone in translating years of peacebuilding and political transition into meaningful democratic participation. ###
John Reiner Antiquerra
Mission Coordinator for Operations, Outreach and Communications
john@anfrel.org / anfrel@anfrel.org
+63 923 932 5237 / +63 917 816 3343
IN THE mountainous municipality of Kapangan, Benguet, every storm once carried uncertainty. Now, it carries proof of what preparedness can do.
Nestled among rugged terrain and terraced farms, Kapangan is no stranger to risk. Landslides triggered by heavy rains, frequent earthquakes, and sudden road blockages have long threatened to isolate entire barangays, cutting off access to aid, services, and life-saving information. For years, reaching remote communities—especially those in signal “dead spots”—meant physically traveling just to deliver warnings. Critical time was often lost when it mattered most.
Today, that reality has changed.
At the center of this transformation is Erick Abangley, Kapangan’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, who has seen firsthand how stronger communication can turn vulnerability into resilience. Their town was one of the first recipients of PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit back in 2024.
“Consistent na nag-zero casualty or zero dead sa amin,” Abangley shared. “Kasi at least mayroon kamiyung Ligtas Kit, malaking tulong na yan para ma-meet natin yung zero casualty [rate] sa aming bayan.”
The PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit is an all-in-one emergency communications solution designed to provide reliable connectivity in times of disaster. The Kapangan local DRRMO used the mobile phone included in the Ligtas Kit as their dedicated hotline, megaphones, crank radio, whistles, flashlights, portable power station, and solar panel. It enabled responders to coordinate quickly, issue timely warnings, and sustain operations even during power outages or infrastructure disruptions.
The Ligtas Kit, together with its bundled emergency communications training module for beneficiaries, is part of PLDT and Smart’s broader #KonnektedforResilience advocacy that promotes a culture of preparedness and resilience, before, during, and after disasters.
To date, 75 Ligtas Kits have been deployed nationwide—from Batanes to Pag-asa Island to Jolo—giving communities the tools and the training they need to stay prepared and resilient.
For Kapangan, the shift began with something simple yet transformative: connection.
“Yung unang-una po kasi wala po kaming hotline noon. Kaya noong nakita namin, at least nabigyan kami ng hotline,” Abangley explained. “Yun ang mostly ginagamit namin for reporting, data gathering, and coordination with the barangays.”
With the Ligtas Kit supporting the municipality’s Emergency Operations Center, communication has become faster, more organized, and more reliable. Warnings and advisories reach barangays sooner, enabling quicker coordination and response. For communities once isolated by terrain and signal gaps, this has made a critical difference.
Preparedness, too, has taken on new urgency.
Kapangan continues to experience several storms each year, with landslides as a constant threat. But today, proactive measures—such as preemptive enforced evacuations and early warning systems—are carried out more efficiently because of stronger coordination across barangays.
“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.
The kit’s reliable power sources also ensure operations continue during outages, while its communication tools help guarantee that no community is left behind.
But beyond the tools, Kapangan’s success is rooted in a shared mindset of resilience.
For him, resilience begins long before a storm arrives—with awareness, preparation, and participation from every member of the community.
“Bago dumating yung bagyo, dapat tayo ay nakapaghanda na. Alamin natin kung saan yung mga hazard or risk areas,” he said.
This collective effort has transformed Kapangan from a high-risk municipality into one that consistently protects its people—proving that disaster outcomes can be changed with the right systems in place.
Across the country, PLDT and Smart continue to support local governments in strengthening disaster preparedness beyond connectivity.
“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, FVP and Head, Public Engagement Group at PLDT and Smart.
Kapangan’s story is a quiet but powerful reminder that resilience is built not only through infrastructure or technology, but through people working together—prepared, informed, and ready to act.
And in this town where storms still come, resilience means more than surviving disasters—it means making sure that every single time, everyone makes it home.
SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano supports the Philippines’ accession to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), a global agreement that aims to strengthen cooperation and coordination in rescuing people in distress at sea.
Cayetano was earlier made co-sponsor and co-author of Proposed Senate Resolution No. 643, under Committee Report No. 98, which seeks Senate concurrence in the country’s accession to the 1979 SAR Convention.
The Minority Leader said stronger regulations and coordinated systems are essential to keeping people safe, particularly in emergencies at sea.
“Obligasyon po natin to keep the people safe and the best way to do that is walang papalusutin pagdating sa regulation,” Cayetano said.
The 1979 SAR Convention seeks to establish a coordinated search-and-rescue system among countries, including defined Search and Rescue Regions and 24-hour Rescue Coordination Centers.
It also requires countries to assist people in distress at sea regardless of nationality or status and promotes cooperation among neighboring countries during maritime emergencies.
The agreement further establishes standardized emergency phases, including the Uncertainty Phase, Alert Phase, and Distress Phase, to guide countries in responding to maritime incidents.
The Philippines, being a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration Champion Country (GCM), should always be at the forefront in the protection of sea-based OFWs.
Accession to this treaty would strengthen the country’s commitment to keeping Filipino seafarers and other people at sea safe, particularly during maritime emergencies.
Cayetano also highlighted the important role of Filipino seafarers, who contribute significantly to the country’s economy.
“OFWs are all over the world. Sabihin mo kung saan may opportunity, nandiyan ang Pilipino. At pag nandiyan ang Pilipino, kitang kita ang Philippine excellence. I praise God for you, ating mga OFWs who keep our economy alive especially during hard times,” he said.
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