Tech About PH

Teachers in Muntinlupa are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can help make everyday learning more accessible to students with disabilities, from communicating with a nonverbal learner to providing real-time captions and creating visual materials for young children.   Through ‘AI for Accessibility’, a training initiative under PLDT and Smart’s #KonektedforInclusionprogram, Special Needs Education and general education teachers from schools and institutions across Muntinlupa learned how AI-powered accessibility tools can address some of the challenges they encounter in their classrooms and communities.   “Technology becomes more meaningful when it responds to real needs,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “By working with teachers who understand the day-to-day realities of students with disabilities, we can help bring digital tools closer to the classroom and, ultimately, to the students and families who can benefit from...

Las Piñas is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to explore new ways of managing information, developing projects, and delivering public services, with PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box.   “AI-in-a-Box helps us bring all our data together, from green card programs to services for women, the youth, and TUPAD beneficiaries,” said Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar. “This way, we know exactly who we’ve helped and who still needs support. In the end, it’s about making sure our services reach the people who need them most.”   AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make AI more accessible to communities. The program combines digital tools, connectivity, training, and mentorship to help local government units turn emerging technologies into practical solutions to enhance public service delivery.    “Through AI-in-a-Box, we want to give city personnel not just access to technology, but the confidence to explore how AI can address the needs of their own communities,” said St...

Siena College of Taytay (SCT) in Rizal province is making the school more inclusive for all students, especially those with disabilities. With SCT being a valued partner in the PLDT Group’s education initiatives, PLDT and Smart, together with ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired), hosted a disability sensitivity workshop for its teachers and support personnel.   “Inclusivity is part of our agenda,” said Sr. Rosalea Busilac, O.P., president of SCT. “The training is especially helpful for our teachers because it gives them the opportunity to really deepen their understanding of learners with disabilities.” She added that the college also sees the session as an opportunity to identify further improvements to its facilities to better serve students with disabilities.   The training is part of a broader push by PLDT and Smart to expand access to education for underrepresented groups.   “We believe that no learner...

Metro Cebu is taking a major step toward smarter and more responsive public service with the rollout of PLDT and Smart AI-in-a-Box (AIAB) program.   AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible to communities. The program combines digital tools, connectivity, training, and mentorship to help local government units turn emerging technologies into practical solutions. As part of the initiative, participating LGUs received an AI-in-a-Box kit that includes a laptop, a smartphone, a Smart connectivity device, and premium access to AI tools, including ChatGPT.   In a simple ceremony at the Cebu City Hall, Mayor Nestor Archival received the AI-in-a-Box package on behalf of the local government of Cebu City, from PLDT and Smart represented by Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement and Corporate Communications, and Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement.   The rollout successfully extends across Metro...

PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc.’s social outreach arm PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), in collaboration with Cebu Diversified Advocacy Cooperative (CEDACO), extended support to Cebu Technological University Cebu City Mountain Campus (CTU CCM) through the donation of digital tools, office supplies, and planting kits as part of PSF’s nationwide back-to-school initiative. CTU CCM, established to serve the youth in the upland communities of Cebu City, has grown into a trusted learning hub for students across the Visayas and Mindanao. Surrounded by farming communities and eco-tourism sites, the campus offers agriculture-related programs that directly support and strengthen local livelihoods and industries. "Young people have the capacity to shape the future of agriculture, not only through modern technology, but through fresh ideas and a commitment to serve their communities. We hope these resources encourage students to think beyond the classroom and become changemakers who will ...

From pen and paper to artificial intelligence (AI) and interactive applications, PLDT and Smart’s #KonektedforLearning initiative champions learning for all by integrating technology into Philippine classrooms and boosting education resiliency through crisis-tested teaching strategies. "Technology has the power to expand opportunities for learning, but its true value lies in how it helps students, teachers, and communities overcome barriers," said Stephanie V. Orlino, Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. "Through KonektedforLearning, we work with partners to ensure that more Filipino learners can access quality education, develop future-ready skills, and continue learning even in challenging circumstances." For decades, PLDT and Smart have worked alongside the Department of Education (DepEd) to help bring inclusive and quality learning opportunities to underserved communities, including geographically isolated schools and ar...

Cabanatuan City takes a huge leap into a smarter future with PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box program. Under the initiative, the city government will develop its own AI-powered solution aimed at making public services smarter and more efficient.   "We see artificial intelligence as a practical tool for improving governance and delivering better outcomes for our people,” said Mayor Myca Elizabeth R. Vergara of Cabanatuan City. “We are committed to institutionalizing this initiative and integrating it into our operations. This is part of our broader vision of building a smarter, more responsive city government that listens, acts, and serves more effectively."   With support from PLDT-Smart Foundation and Microsoft Philippines, AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make artificial intelligence more accessible to communities, combining digital tools, connectivity, and training to help organizations and local governments turn emerging technologies into practical solutions. Eac...

Over a hundred farmers, fisherfolk, and small business owners across the province of Laguna are now ready to become digital entrepreneurs, through a training conducted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the Digital-PINAS initiative, or the Joint Programme on Inclusive, Competitive, ​and Responsible Digital Philippines​.   Digital-PINAS brings community-based MSME workshops to local communities, with support from sole telco partner PLDT and Smart through the group’s #KonektedforLivelihoods initiative.   In the workshops conducted in the towns of Santa Cruz, Pila, Victoria, and Los Baños, PLDT and Smart representatives held sessions on smartphone photography and cybersecurity awareness, to enable participants to better showcase their products online, while protecting themselves from falling victim to online scams. The Group also distributed Smart Prepaid pocket wifi units and load cards to support the sessions.   "True digital transformation in the countryside is...

Students in remote schools in the province of Southern Leyte learn how to read and solve mathematical equations using interactive tech-powered educational tools found inside School-in-a-Bag (SIAB) packages. The latest deployment, sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the Department of Education Region 8, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), marks the global agency’s fourth and largest deployment of SIAB kits to date.   “Our mandate is to ensure that every child has equal access to quality education, especially those who are in the most marginalized communities. We hope this support will help drive meaningful changes in classrooms. These devices are not meant to add to teachers’ burden, but to help ease their workload and improve the overall teaching and learning experience for both teachers and students,” said Jieun Yoon, Education Specialist from UNICEF Philippines....

In times of crisis and emergency, Quezon City’s frontliners keep communities safe and protected. But who ensures that these frontliners remain strong, supported, and ready when called upon to serve?  PLDT and Smart, in partnership with the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), recently conducted a holistic stress management workshop for the emergency response frontliners of the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QC DRRMO) and Quezon City Citizens Services Department (CSD). The initiative reinforces a shared commitment to strengthening resilience and safeguarding the mental health of those on the frontlines of crisis response. This is part of the broader initiative of PLDT and Smart through its #KonektedForResilience advocacy program that focuses on community resilience and disaster preparedness. The workshop centered on key challenges faced by responders, including burnout, secondhand traumatic stress, and the cumulative emotional toll of emergency wo...

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to strengthen its partnership with D One Legacy PH Corp, working closely to expand digital access and unlock sustainable livelihood opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs nationwide. The collaboration focuses on equipping D One members with a strong e-loading business foundation supported by Smart’s fast, reliable, and extensive mobile network.   “We are happy to support D One as they continue to open doors for Filipinos seeking practical and sustainable sources of income,” said Christian So, Assistant Vice President and Head of Modern Trade Key Accounts at Smart. “Our nationwide network ensures that every D One member can confidently support their customers and build meaningful livelihood opportunities for themselves and their families.”   By integrating Smart’s broad portfolio of prepaid and connectivity services into D One’s growing distribution network, micro entrepreneurs across the country gain the a...

Reaffirming their commitment to global excellence, PLDT Global Inc. has achieved its ISO 9001:2015 certification, the globally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems. The certification, awarded by TÜV SÜD PSB Philippines Inc., underscores PLDT Global's strong focus on customer-centricity, operational excellence, and its ability to consistently deliver world-class connectivity and innovative digital solutions to Filipino communities and enterprises worldwide. PLDT Global's achievement of ISO 9001:2015, which sets stringent requirements on quality, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, marks a fitting capstone to a milestone year for PLDT Inc.’s international arm. "This year has been truly remarkable for PLDT Global. Securing ISO 9001:2015 certification is a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and global standards,” said Albert V. Villa-Real, President and CEO of PLDT Global. “Every initiat...

AI is becoming a lifeline for young learners with disabilities, as PLDT and Smart launch a new training program that teaches special needs education (SNED) students to use accessible Android tools for school and daily tasks. The goal is simple: turn the devices they already hold into learning companions they can rely on.   The Android Accessibility Training tailored for students with disabilities was developed with ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired), a nonprofit organization that provides ICT-based training and services to persons with disabilities, and NORFIL Foundation. The pilot run was held at Padre Gomez Elementary School in Manila, where 19 students took part in the five-day training.   “Technology can be a great equalizer,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “With the help of mobile applications, our SNED teachers can customize their teaching strategies t...

Local government unit (LGU) workers in the Bicol region are keeping abreast with opportunities in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and secure delivery of public service, especially since they serve communities extremely vulnerable to typhoons and other natural disasters.   In a recent workshop organized by PLDT and Smart as part of their drive to support LGUs in their digital transformation, almost 50 LGU representatives from across Bicol learned how AI tools can help them manage repetitive inquiries, improve operational efficiency, and deliver more responsive public service.   These Bicol LGUs were identified by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) as partners in establishing and operating their own electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS), a key component of the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the country.   The initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box program, designed to equip organizations, including LGUs, with e...