In Kapangan, Benguet, every family makes it home

“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

Erick Abangley, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II of Kapangan, Benguet.

The mountainous municipality of Kapangan, Benguet, used to be uncertain after every storm. It now has proof of the power of preparedness.

Danger is a common occurrence in Kapangan, which is surrounded by rough terrain and terraced farms. Landslides caused by heavy rains, frequent earthquakes, and unplanned road closures have long threatened to isolate entire barangays by cutting off access to services, aid, and life-saving information. Delivering warnings to remote communities, especially those in signal "dead spots," required physical travel for a long time. Critical time was often lost when it mattered most.

Today, that reality has changed.

At the center of this shift is Erick Abangley, Kapangan's Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, who has seen firsthand how better communication can turn vulnerability into resilience. Their town was one of the first to receive the PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit in 2024.

The PLDT and Smart Ligtas Kit is an all-in-one emergency communications solution designed to provide dependable connectivity in an emergency. The Ligtas Kit included a cell phone that was used as the local DRRMO's dedicated hotline in Kapangan. They also employed portable power plants, whistles, flashlights, crank radios, megaphones, and solar panels. Responders were able to coordinate quickly, issue timely warnings, and continue operations even in the event of infrastructure disruptions or power outages. The Ligtas Kit and its integrated emergency communications training module are part of PLDT and Smart's broader #KonnektedforResilience campaign, which promotes 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.

Thanks to the Ligtas Kit's assistance with the municipality's Emergency Operations Center, communication has become more dependable, organized, and quick. Early notification of warnings and advisories enables barangays to respond and coordinate more quickly. Communities that were previously isolated by topography and signal gaps have been greatly impacted by this.

Preparedness, too, has taken on new urgency.

In Kapangan, which still has several storms a year, landslides are a constant threat. However, proactive measures like early warning systems and preemptive enforced evacuations are now more successfully implemented because of better barangay coordination.

The kit's reliable power sources guarantee that operations continue during outages, and its communication tools help guarantee that no community is left behind.

But Kapangan's success comes from a resilient mindset that goes beyond the gear.

According to him, resilience begins well in advance of a storm, with everyone in the community being informed, ready, and engaged.

By cooperating, Kapangan has transformed from a high-risk municipality to one that consistently protects its citizens, proving that the right systems can change how disasters unfold.

Beyond connectivity, PLDT and Smart are still helping local governments across the country improve their readiness 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

In addition to infrastructure and technology, Kapangan's story serves as a quiet but powerful reminder that people working together—prepared, informed, and ready to act—build resilience.

Furthermore, resilience in this town where storms still happen entails more than just surviving disasters; it also entails making sure that everyone always makes it back home.