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| DICT ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau OIC – Director III Mina Lyn C. Peralta and PLDT and Smart Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Management Stephanie V. Orlino (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
For championing initiatives that help the country narrow the digital divide, leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) have been feted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The recognition took place at the 2025 DICT ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau (ILCDB) Partner Summit held as part of the DICT’s month-long celebration of National ICT Month.
PLDT and Smart were acknowledged for their unwavering commitment to digital inclusion and their steadfast partnership with the DICT in advancing digital literacy nationwide. PLDT and Smart are the sole Philippine telco partner of the Digital Transformation Centers (DTC) Initiative, a global effort created by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Cisco, and a key DICT program to expand digital skills training across the country. Speaking during the ceremonies, PLDT and Smart Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Management Stephanie V. Orlino said, “We are very grateful for the opportunity to support the ILCDB, especially as their sole telco partner for the DTC Initiative. This initiative inspires all of us to continue working hand in hand with government, community partners, and stakeholders to help build a future where every Filipino is connected, capable, and empowered.” For over two decades, PLDT and Smart have worked to bridge the digital divide through programs focused on education, livelihood, disaster resilience, internet safety, and digital inclusion. These efforts have brought essential digital tools and connectivity to communities that need them most, supporting teachers and students, enabling persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, and empowering farmers and microentrepreneurs across the country.
Emphasizing how these were all achieved through collaboration with partners like DICT, Orlino added, “Through our ‘Tech for Good, Tech for All’ programs, we have trained educators and learners, supported digital entrepreneurship, enabled remote work for women with disabilities, and provided critical communications support during disasters.” To date, PLDT and Smart’s programs have trained over a million teachers and students on digital literacy, empowered over 50,000 farmers and MSMEs through digital entrepreneurship, and enabled 120 women with disabilities with digital skills that help them with remote tech jobs. This latest recognition is also the latest milestone in a longstanding partnership between PLDT, Smart, and DICT. Earlier this year, PLDT and Smart led Basic Digital Literacy sessions, covering smartphone, social media and online selling basics. The sessions, tailored for first-time users and senior citizens, were for the benefit of DICT regional executives and managers of Tech4ED-DTCs, which serve as shared digital hubs across the country, offering access to government services, learning content, and livelihood resources.
PLDT and Smart’s involvement in these initiatives reflects the PLDT Group’s broader mission of nation-building through technology and is aligned with the national government’s key digitalization efforts. These initiatives also help the country achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) #1: No Poverty; #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; and #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
