Smart Communications Inc. (Smart)

Smart champions digital inclusion for persons with disabilities in the Philippines by providing accessible digital skills training, expanding livelihood opportunities, and working with key partners to build a more inclusive digital economy. This long-term commitment is part of a broader drive to reduce inequalities and unlock digital and economic opportunities for all.

About Smart

Smart Communications, Inc. is the wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT, the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications company. With a 4G/5G network covering approximately 97% of the population, Smart provides mobile services and digital connectivity to over 59 million Filipinos (as of end-2024).

An advocate of technology for good and for all, Smart plays a key role in supporting the country’s digital transformation. Through its group-wide CSR programme, PLDT and Smart Communities, the company is committed to empowering underserved sectors by enabling access to inclusive digital services, education and livelihood opportunities.

Smart’s disability-focused initiatives fall under its IDEATe programme (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy Through Technology), which leverages technology to address social inequities and open doors to digital participation and economic empowerment.

Disability Inclusion Initiatives

Smart is dedicated to advancing digital inclusion for persons with disabilities in the Philippines by driving accessible innovation, fostering partnerships and supporting the upskilling and employment of individuals with disabilities. The company works closely with the National Council on Disability Affairs (the government agency leading the development of disability programmes), as well as with NGOs that champion the rights of persons with disabilities in the digital economy. Through IDEATe, Smart enables beneficiaries to build the skills they need to access remote jobs, digital marketplaces and digital tools for daily life.

“Smart champions digital inclusion, accessibility and innovation for all. With our customer as the north star, we advocate for equitable access to technology and connectivity, enabling all Filipinos to leverage digital innovations so they can live fuller lives. Guided by our core value of ‘malasakit’ or empathy, Smart commits to leave no person behind.”

– Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement and Corporate Communications, PLDT and Smart

Key disability inclusion initiatives to date:

• Android accessibility training: A foundational digital literacy course that teaches participants the basic operation of Android devices. Using the TalkBack screen reader, the training enables persons with visual impairments to navigate mobile applications independently and use digital tools to support their daily lives.
• Digital Business Basics training: A comprehensive entrepreneurship course covering key concepts such as starting a business, identifying a target market, sourcing funds, pricing and costing. The training also equips participants with digital tools to grow their business online, including modules on using e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, content creation, internet safety and mobile wallets.
• Digital upskilling-to-employment programme: An online learning initiative designed to equip participants with practical digital skills for remote, tech-enabled employment. Participants choose from a range of courses including general virtual assistance, social media management and marketing, accounting and bookkeeping, and graphic design and video editing. Women with disabilities including those with psychosocial disabilities, caregivers and single mothers, are eligible to apply for training subsidies to support their participation. In 2024 alone, over 300 persons with disabilities enrolled in Smart’s free digital upskilling courses, delivered across multiple locations throughout the Philippines.
• Specialised training for women in challenging circumstances: Under the IDEATe programme, Smart delivers targeted upskilling opportunities for women with disabilities and caregivers. These include courses in general virtual assistance, accounting and bookkeeping, and social media management and marketing, enabling participants to develop relevant skills for digital entrepreneurship and remote work. More than 50 women with disabilities or carers of persons with disabilities completed these modules in 2024. In the past two years, PLDT and Smart have also donated desktop computers and personal laptops (in partnership with Huawei and PLDT and Smart Foundation) to select beneficiaries and provided connectivity support to all qualified scholars.
• Digital literacy training for seniors: Launched before the pandemic, the Smart Millenniors programme was designed to teach older adults how to use smartphones, mobile data, social media and stay safe online. The name is a play on the words “seniors,” who need support in navigating technology, and “millennials,” digital natives who often serve as tech mentors. Through this initiative, Smart has empowered seniors in communities across the Philippines to become more digitally engaged.