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Mobile leader Smart Communications (Smart) has taken its role in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) to heart, prepositioning communications support for the use of local government units for emergency response efforts, days before Typhoon Nona and Typhoon Lando hit the country last year. Smart also prepositioned emergency communications for affected populations so they can reconnect with their loved ones.

Over the years, Smart has gone beyond providing emergency communications to disaster-stricken communities. It has been actively working with local government units and various partners to build the capacities of highisk communities to prepare for, manage, and bounce back from disasters.

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Recently, the telco’s contribution to DRRM was acknowledged by the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR) and presented Smart the “Advocate for DRRM” award under the Private Category.

Smart Infocast

OCD-CAR has been getting support from Smart for years now via the Smart Infocast, a web-based emergency communications solution that allows OCD-CAR to send warning, advisories, preparedness and safety tips via SMS to 3,000 DRRM officers and residents in the region for free.

“Smart Infocast is a big help in spreading vital information to the public in the fastest way possible. This increases their level of awareness and urges them to smartly prepare for incoming disasters. If you look at our data on the casualties, there’s a huge decrease in the number,” said OCD-CAR Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy.

All six provinces in CAR are connected via Smart Infocast, which was launched in the region last 2012.

Smart has also given its full support to the OCD national office in its effort to institutionalize disaster communication protocols. (PR)

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