PLDT Inc. [PLDT], led by Capampangan Manuel V. Pangilinan, will expand its support for government and healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic to include those serving in New Clark City.
PLDT’s wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), is deploying carrier-grade fiber-powered Smart WiFi at the NCC Government Building located at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
“In a show of thanksgiving and appreciation for our frontliners, we want to make our COVID-19 facilities as comfortable as possible for them. Together with PLDT Enterprise, we were able to power up our different sites with Smart WiFi—allowing our medical professionals to stay in contact with their families during this period,” said Vince Dizon, Presidential Adviser for Flagship Projects.
“This rollout is part of PLDT-Smart’s commitment to equip our frontliners with reliable connectivity and relevant digital tools to help them during this nationwide COVID-19 response. We look forward to more of this type of collaboration with government and non-governmental organizations,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer.
These Wi-Fi installations, which have a capacity of up to 1 Gigabyte per second, are the latest in PLDT-Smart’s ongoing efforts to provide communications support to frontline agencies and their personnel such as the departments of health, transportation, public works, the armed forces and police, local governments and non-governmental organizations in different parts of the country. This is the same carrier-grade WiFi that Smart deployed at the CDC Parade Grounds in 2018.
“We are ONE with the nation in this critical moment, and we want to provide as much support as we can to our frontliners. Free Wi-Fi in COVID-19 centers is just one way to help our tireless health workers connect with their loved ones at home while they battle against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.
In the National Capital Region, Smart WiFi-powered COVID-19 hubs have been installed at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Smart WiFi is also being deployed in La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City and Far Eastern University in Alabang, Muntinlupa, which are housing COVID-19 frontliners from nearby hospitals.
Smart WiFi connectivity is also available in provincial capitols, city and municipal halls across the country, which are being used as a base of operations for local government logistics, transportation and relief, as well as in hospitals, supermarkets and convenience stores.
