HappeningPH Education! PLDT, Smart Train Persons with Disabilities in Visayas on Tech Entrepreneurship

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), together with Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) and NORFIL Foundation Inc., continue to enhance the digital skills of persons with disabilities in Visayas. The group recently conducted its Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

“Many persons with disabilities now have access to technology and connectivity. Our goal in PLDT and Smart is to assist them in leveraging technology to improve their lives. We hope that the knowledge the participants gained from this training will be beneficial to them and enable them to contribute to their communities,” said Dane Macapagal, PLDT Head for Panay and Palawan.

DBBT is a week-long digital training that seeks to equip persons with disabilities with the digital skills and tools necessary to establish or grow their business online. Since 2023, PLDT, Smart and ATRIEV have brought the DBBT to five towns in Central and Western Visayas and trained more than 100 persons with disabilities.

At the training, participants learned about the basics of financial management, e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, and internet safety, among others. Smart also presented its retailer program and the Maya Business App, providing other livelihood opportunities to persons with disabilities.

Edcel Basañes, a person with psychosocial disability and participant from the San Jose de Buenavista run, was grateful to participate in the workshop. “The training covered many interesting topics, and it was great to learn something new every day. I also appreciate our visually impaired instructors, who were very skilled in conducting the training despite their limitations. So far, this has been the most memorable training that I have experienced,” she shared.

“I am delighted to witness our participant’s perseverance and dedication to completing this digital upskilling initiative. We thank ATRIEV and its partner institutions because this would not be possible without the combined efforts of the LGU and organizations that truly care for our persons with disabilities,” said Leosam Antonio, Persons with Disability Affairs Office Focal Person at Bayawan City Social Welfare and Development Office.

This initiative forms part of PLDT and Smart’s IDEATE program or Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology, which is aligned with the group’s commitment to help the country attain UNSDG 10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities.