Learning from ‘Ondoy’ the Smart way

One year after typhoon “Ondoy” put to test the company’s ability to provide timely response and service assistance in the event of a disaster, Smart Communications Inc. has applied the lessons learned from the experience to further strengthen its disaster response program.

At the heart of this commitment to continuously improve to be prepared for even the worst scenario is knowing the importance of keeping communication lines working during times of calamities.

Debbie Hu, Smart’s access and transport operations and maintenance head, explains that family members need to contact loved ones to ask for help or to assure them of their well-being, while government agencies, rescue and relief workers need to coordinate response efforts.

“Network engineers are trained to respond to natural calamities such as typhoons. Even before a typhoon hits the country, engineers are dispatched to crucial areas to bring spare parts, generator sets or alternative communications equipment just in case a base station breaks down,” she says.

According to Ronald Miranda, senior supervisor of the Regional Command Center, Smart’s preparations cover all stages.