Demonstrating its unwavering support for government initiatives and its commitment to saving lives by enhancing disaster response capabilities across the nation, PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of PLDT, formalized its role by signing a memorandum of agreement at the Emergency 911 National Summit.
The event, which brought together key government agencies, public safety organizations, and private sector partners, emphasized the significance of robust and reliable communication infrastructures in enhancing emergency response efforts across the Philippines.
At the summit, PLDT Enterprise highlighted its Lipad LGU initiative, which is designed to empower local government units (LGUs) with the digital tools necessary to ensure their communities’ safety and resilience.
By providing state-of-the-art communication solutions, including the technology that powers the 911 hotline, PLDT Enterprise is playing a pivotal role in modernizing emergency response systems across the Philippines, ensuring that more lives are protected during times of crisis and emergency.
Saving Lives Through Technology
Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Core Business at PLDT and Smart, emphasized PLDT’s commitment to building a safer, more resilient, and disaster-ready Philippines. He highlighted the company’s dedication to leveraging its technological expertise and expansive infrastructure to support the government’s disaster preparedness efforts.
“Our primary goal with initiatives like this is to safeguard lives and strengthen communities. In line with this, as providers of critical communications, before, during, and after disasters, the PLDT Group has a binding commitment to help build a culture of preparedness by collaborating with our stakeholders. Our collaboration with the Emergency 911 National Office is just the beginning of many initiatives that PLDT Enterprise will champion as we advocate for a more resilient and disaster-ready Philippines,” said Locsin.
The discussion included PLDT’s unmatched domestic and global connectivity through the country’s most expansive subsea cable system. Locsin also highlighted Smart, PLDT’s wireless subsidiary, for its extensive 5G network, and discussed VITRO Inc., PLDT’s data center arm, which operates the Philippines’ first and largest hyperscale data center, laying the foundation for hybrid and cloud-adjacent IT architecture. Additionally, he emphasized PLDT and Smart’s advanced cybersecurity and network operations centers, which ensure uninterrupted network performance and enhanced security.
Next Generation 911 for Emergency Situations
The summit also featured a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PLDT Enterprise and key government agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). This MOU signifies a strengthened partnership aimed at enhancing the 911 emergency response system and ensuring that it meets international standards, as promised by the Next Generation 911 (NG911) framework.
Bringing in the NG911 from America to the Emergency 911 National Office in the Philippines, 911 is promised to be the universal number to call for emergency help nationwide as a proven, lifesaving service to the public. This solution emphasized that delays in recognition and treatment of time-sensitive conditions like heart-attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death.
NG911’s next generation technology promises to protect lives with its dynamic call routing, multimedia capabilities, infrastructure security, incident management, system migration, collaboration portal, geographic information system, call center management, call handling, and training among others.
“Through our partnership with NGA 911, we are bringing our digital expertise and global best practices to the Philippines, ensuring that our 911 services are equipped with the latest technology to handle emergencies more effectively and ultimately, save more lives,” added Locsin. “This initiative aligns with our broader mission to build a safer, more resilient, and disaster-ready nation.”
PLDT Group’s Commitment to the Entire Nation
The PLDT Group’s participation in the Emergency 911 National Summit marks a significant step forward in its ongoing efforts to collaborate with government agencies and other stakeholders to improve public safety. As the company continues to expand its reach and capabilities, it remains committed to providing the digital solutions needed to protect and empower Filipino communities.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart, shared that,“We recognize that our role at PLDT is more than just providing telecommunications. We must also empower the communities that make our success possible. The Emergency 911 National Summit will help ensure swift and effective responses during crises—leveraging the capabilities of both the public and private sector. This partnership is further proof that everyone must be involved in the grand task of nation building, and we are always ready to help building a safer, more disaster-resilient country.”
By leveraging advanced communication infrastructures and digital solutions, PLDT Enterprise helps build more resilient cities and communities, ensuring a safer and more sustainable environment for all.
Committed to contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG No. 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, the PLDT Group aims to enhance disaster risk reduction through its support for integrated policies and plans, as well as through the development of digital infrastructure. Together with key partners, PLDT has also been rolling out capacity-building training sessions to help bridge the gap in emergency communications during disasters. The group also provides access to communications devices and connectivity through the Ligtas Kit, conducts relevant disaster resilience training, provides community-based early warning platforms such as the Infocast platform, as well as emergency communications support to disaster-hit communities.
