Mama Miah!: Mindanao

Showing posts with label Mindanao. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

PLDT Enterprise and Smart forge groundbreaking partnership with People in Need to bolster disaster preparedness in Mindanao

Mama Miah April 24, 2024 0 Comments

Sealing a pivotal alliance: Leaders from PLDT Enterprise, Smart Communications Inc., and People in Need come together, marking the dawn of a groundbreaking partnership aimed at fortifying disaster resilience in Mindanao. Together, they embark on a journey to harness technology for a safer, more sustainable future. In photo: (L-R), Alfred Mark Rosete, Early Warning Systems (EWS) Program Manager at People in Need; Roberto W. Suzon Business Head, Corporate Relationship Business Head for Northern Mindanao at PLDT Enterprise; Zcyrill Ryan B. Agac-ac, Northern Mindanao Relationship Manager at PLDT Enterprise; and Judee Caroline D. Chaves, Mindanao Relations Head at Smart Communications, Inc.

In a move to advance disaster resilience and sustainable development in the Philippines, the B2B arm of the largest telco in the country, PLDT Enterprise, and PLDT’s wireless arm, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), have announced their latest collaboration with the global humanitarian organization People in Need (PIN). This partnership underlines a shared commitment to harnessing innovative technology to enhance disaster preparedness and response in Mindanao, focusing on the Strengthening Resilience Through Early Action and Impact Mitigation (STREAM) Project.

The STREAM Project, funded by the GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action and supported by the UK International Development from the UK government, aims to revolutionize local impact forecasting and early warning systems in 12 municipalities across the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur in Mindanao. These areas, identified as high-risk for flooding, will benefit from the integration of PLDT and Smart's advanced Smart Internet of Things (IoT) SIM and Smart Messaging Suite.

Roberto W. Suzon, PLDT Enterprise Corporate Relationship Business Head for Northern Mindanao, highlighted the significance of this collaboration:

“Our partnership with People in Need is more than just a technological endeavor; it's a commitment to safeguarding communities and empowering them with the tools they need to mitigate the impact of natural calamities. By leveraging PLDT's reliable fiber connectivity and Smart's cutting-edge solutions, we are setting a new standard in disaster preparedness and resilience.”

The Smart IoT SIMs will be instrumental in remotely monitoring water levels in flood-prone areas, ensuring timely data transmission to PIN's servers for accurate forecasting. Meanwhile, the Smart Messaging Suite will play a crucial role in disseminating vital information and evacuation alerts to vulnerable communities, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to imminent threats.

Alfred Mark Rosete, Early Warning Systems (EWS) Program Manager for People in Need, expressed his enthusiasm for the project's potential:

“With the support of PLDT Enterprise and Smart, we are poised to make a significant impact on the lives of those in the most at-risk communities in Mindanao. The STREAM Project embodies our vision of a world where technology and innovation go hand in hand with humanitarian efforts to build a safer, more resilient future for all.”

Additionally, under its disaster resilience advocacy, Smart also recently engaged with PIN during the GSMA's Humanitarian Connectivity Charter (HCC) Asia-Pacific workshops held in Clark, Pampanga, attended by ASEAN delegates. Smart was among the first operators in the world to adopt the principles of the HCC, when it was launched in 2015. The HCC is a set of principles and best practices reached collaboratively between mobile network operators (MNOs) on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a sudden onset emergency.

These engagements underscore the PLDT Group's longstanding #SafeandSmart advocacy, which promotes preparedness and immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services, mobile solutions and activities, and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks. Through initiatives like the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit program, which has already equipped 10 Mindanao provinces with comprehensive emergency communications packages, the telco group reaffirms their commitment to a disaster-resilient Mindanao.

As PLDT Enterprise and Smart continue to explore new frontiers in the role of technology in disaster resilience and climate action, their collaboration with PIN sets a precedent for how the private sector and the humanitarian community can come together to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time and contribute towards achieving UNSDG No. 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and UNSDG No. 13: Climate Action. Recognizing climate as one of the top risks in the Philippines and across the PLDT Group, PLDT Enterprise and Smart continue to integrate climate risk management into their network architecture, operations, and customer solutions. The Group leverages its leading technology and digital solutions to help boost adaptation, and resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

“Always moving further, together with our partners, PLDT Enterprise remains steadfast in its vision to not only advance the business landscape but to foster a community where progress and resilience go hand in hand. Our partnership with People in Need is a testament to our commitment to leveraging technology for the greater good, ensuring businesses and communities alike are better equipped, more connected, and infinitely stronger. With every step, we aim to redefine the boundaries of innovation and collaboration, ensuring that every advancement we make is better for business and transformative for society. Together, we journey towards a future where every challenge is met with a smart, sustainable solution, furthering our collective impact, and driving us towards a brighter, more resilient tomorrow,” concluded Suzon.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Holcim Philippines Launches Build to Win Promo in Mindanao

Mama Miah March 24, 2021 0 Comments

Holcim Philippines, Inc. - Mindanao's leading cement manufacturer has launched their biggest promotion, Build to Win! This promo will encourage customers to use its products to build strong, durable, and high-quality structures. Major Prizes at stake are brand new Toyota Wigos, Vios, and Ford Raptors!

The Build to Win Promo started last March 1 and will end on November 30, 2021. These will give cement buyers and hardware owners more time to win the prizes. Prizes to be won are the following: 10 cars, 14 motorcycles, 24 smartphones and tablets, and Php8.5 million worth of gift certificates! They will draw the winners in June, September, and December.

How to Join?

A cement buyer earns a raffle entry for every 10, 40-kilogram bags purchased of road infrastructure cement Holcim Solido, general-purpose cement Holcim Excel, or masonry cement Holcim Wallright or every five bags of Holcim Skim Coat or Holcim Tile Adhesive. Bulk cement buyers earn a raffle entry for every 800,000 kilograms of cement bought.

Hardware stores that have sold Holcim products will also receive a prize if their clients are selected.

Holcim Philippines Launches Build to Win Promo Exclusively for Mindanao

Paulo Tan, Holcim Philippines' Vice President and Head of Sales for Visayas and Mindanao said: “We are excited to hold this timely contest in Mindanao, which we expect to have a strong construction activity this year and moving forward. Aside from driving sales, the Build to Win contest is another way to reward our customers here while encouraging more people to try our various products. We at Holcim Philippines are confident that end-users will find that our offerings can help them build strong, durable, and high-quality structures and encourage them to become regular customers.”

For more details about this promo, you may visit this link: http://bit.ly/3vOPLCJ. Like the Holcim Philippines’ Facebook page to get updates on their latest innovations and promos like this one.

**********

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solutions companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Holcim Philippines is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 75,000 employees.

**********

Monday, October 26, 2015

Children's Health at Risk Due to Haze

Mama Miah October 26, 2015 0 Comments

Because of the Haze in Indonesia, more nearby countries in South-East Asia have been affected and our country is one of them, the Philippines. This is alarming because it's putting not just the children's health at risk but all of the people who will be exposed to the haze. Most of the ones who are suffering are the children and babies whose immune systems are still immature.

I've been seeing news about children who had been really affected by the haze, most especially the babies who had been exposed to this hazardous smoke. Some had lived while the others had suffered and died.

What causes the haze in Indonesia?

The haze is caused by farmers clearing land for plantations for the palm oil, pulp and paper industries, primarily in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan on Borneo and the island of Sumatra. [Source]

There are lots of flights that have been canceled too due to this haze, not just here in Southern Mindanao but also in countries like Singapore and Malaysia. There are also a lot of people in Indonesia who had suffered and died of acute respiratory tract infections. [Information on this website]

Now the haze already reached Davao City, our hometown. I've seen one post on Facebook by a Mom whose kids had been sick then after that, a lot of moms have commented and shared that their toddlers and kids were sick too (cough, colds, allergies, asthma, etc.), I guess it's all because of this haze from Indonesia.

Because of this we have limited our outdoor activities and refrain from going outside especially for our daughter, Miel. My daughter currently has coughs and colds too and she had allergies since she was a baby. I am worried that this haze could worsen her condition, so as much as possible we limit ourselves from going out and if we do, we let her wear a mask. We had to stick to our usual routine, home-day care-home and if possible just stay at home if there's no need to go outside. So for those parents who had kids who have a history of asthma and other types of allergies, let your kids wear masks for their own safety. Here's the Department of Health (DOH) Health Advisory during Haze: