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| Erick Abangley, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II of Kapangan, Benguet. |
Every storm used to bring uncertainty in the mountainous municipality of Kapangan, Benguet. It now contains evidence of the power of readiness.
Risk is nothing new in Kapangan, which is surrounded by terraced farms and rough terrain. For a long time, landslides caused by heavy rains, frequent earthquakes, and unexpected road closures have threatened to cut off access to services, aid, and life-saving information, isolating entire barangays. For many years, delivering warnings to isolated communities, particularly those in signal "dead spots," required actual travel. When it mattered most, crucial time was frequently lost.
Today, that reality has changed.
Erick Abangley, Kapangan's Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, is at the center of this change. He has personally witnessed 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
An all-in-one emergency communications solution, the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit is made to offer dependable connectivity during emergencies. Megaphones, crank radios, whistles, flashlights, portable power stations, solar panels, and the mobile phone that came with the Ligtas Kit served as the Kapangan local DRRMO's dedicated hotline. Responders were able to maintain operations even in the event of power outages or infrastructure disruptions, coordinate swiftly, and issue timely warnings. As part of PLDT and Smart's larger #KonnektedforResilience advocacy, the Ligtas Kit and its integrated emergency communications training module for beneficiaries encourage a culture of readiness and resilience prior to, during, and following 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 improved in speed, organization, and dependability thanks to the Ligtas Kit's support for the municipality's Emergency Operations Center. Barangays receive warnings and advisories sooner, allowing for faster response and coordination. This has made a significant impact for communities that were previously cut off by topography and signal gaps.
Preparedness, too, has taken on new urgency.
Every year, Kapangan still has a number of storms, and landslides are a persistent risk. However, due to improved barangay coordination, proactive measures—like early warning systems and preemptive enforced evacuations—are now implemented more effectively.
The kit's communication tools help ensure that no community is left behind, and its dependable power sources also guarantee that operations continue during outages.
Beyond the equipment, however, Kapangan's success stems from a common resilient mindset.
According to him, community awareness, preparation, and involvement are the first steps toward resilience long before a storm hits.
By working together, Kapangan was able to change from being a high-risk municipality to one that continuously protects its residents, demonstrating that the correct systems can alter the course of disasters.
Beyond connectivity, PLDT and Smart continue to assist local governments nationwide in enhancing preparedness for disasters.
“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 serves as a subtle but potent reminder that people working together—prepared, informed, and ready to act—are just as important to building resilience as infrastructure and technology.
Furthermore, resilience in this storm-prone town entails more than just surviving calamities; it also entails ensuring that everyone returns home each and every time.
