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| Erick Abangley, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II of Kapangan, Benguet. |
Every storm in the mountainous municipality of Kapangan, Benguet, brought uncertainty. It now carries evidence of what preparedness can accomplish.
Kapangan, nestled between rugged terrain and terraced farms, is no stranger to danger. Landslides caused by heavy rains, frequent earthquakes, and unexpected road closures have long threatened to isolate entire barangays, cutting off access to aid, services, and vital information. For years, reaching remote communities—particularly those in signal "dead spots"—required physical travel just to deliver warnings. Critical time was frequently lost when it counted the most.
Today, that reality has changed.
Erick Abangley, Kapangan's Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, has witnessed firsthand how improved communication can transform vulnerability into resilience. In 2024, their town was among the first to receive the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit.
“Consistent na nag-zero casualty or zero dead sa amin. Kasi at least mayroon kami yung Ligtas Kit, malaking tulong na yan para ma-meet natin yung zero casualty [rate] sa aming bayan. Yung unang-una po kasi wala po kami ng hotline noon. Kaya noong nakita namin at least nabigyan kami ng hotline. Yun ang mostly ginagamit namin for reporting, data gathering, and coordination with the barangays. Number one yung communication namin, coordination with the barangays, implementing our preemptive enforced evacuation, at yung mga megaphone for giving warnings sa community. Bago dumating yung bagyo, dapat tayo ay nakapaghanda na. Alamin natin kung saan yung mga hazard or risk areas.” ~Erick Abangley, Kapangan’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer
The PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit is a comprehensive emergency communications solution that provides dependable connectivity in times of disaster. The Kapangan DRRMO used the Ligtas Kit's mobile phone as a dedicated hotline, as well as megaphones, crank radios, whistles, flashlights, a portable power station, and a solar panel. It allowed responders to quickly coordinate, issue timely warnings, and continue operations even during power outages or infrastructure disruptions. The Ligtas Kit, along with its bundled emergency communications training module for beneficiaries, is part of PLDT and Smart's larger #KonnektedforResilience campaign, which 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.
Communication has become faster, more organized, and more reliable since the Ligtas Kit was installed in the municipality's Emergency Operations Center. Warnings and advisories reach barangays sooner, allowing for better coordination and response. This has had a significant impact on communities that were previously isolated due to terrain and signal gaps.
Preparedness, too, has taken on new urgency.
Kapangan continues to experience several storms per year, with landslides posing a constant threat. Proactive measures, such as preemptive enforced evacuations and early warning systems, are now carried out more efficiently as a result of improved barangay coordination.
The kit's dependable power sources ensure that operations continue even during outages, and its communication tools help ensure that no community is left behind.
But, beyond the tools, Kapangan's success stems from a shared resilience mindset.
He believes that resilience begins long before a storm arrives, with community awareness, preparation, and participation.
This collaborative effort has transformed Kapangan from a high-risk municipality to one that consistently protects its residents, demonstrating that disaster outcomes can be altered with the right systems in place.
Across the country, PLDT and Smart continue to assist local governments in improving 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.” ~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 also by people coming together—prepared, informed, and ready to act.
And in this town where storms still occur, resilience means more than just surviving disasters; it also means ensuring that everyone returns home safely every time.
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