Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has partnered with the Local Government of Quezon City in developing a unified identification card for its citizens, the QCitizen ID, to streamline government processes, prevent fraud, and deliver better social services to its residents.
Formalizing this partnership, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremonies held at Barangay Quirino 2A in Quezon City. Also in attendance were PLDT and Smart executives Alex O. Caeg, PLDT and Smart SVP and Head of Consumer Sales Group and Gia Palafox, First Vice President and Head of Regional Customer Development for NCR.
“On behalf of Smart, I express my deepest gratitude for allowing us to partner with your local government and play a catalytic role in the digital transformation of your city. To us, this is not just a business opportunity but a civic duty. In this time of pandemic, we are positive that this QCitizen ID project will further expedite the delivery of much-needed benefits and relief assistance to all Quezon City constituents. It is an honor to be part of it,” Panlilio said.
“Because the whole of Quezon City is greatly dependent on better connectivity, I am grateful to Smart for joining us public servants in launching this program for the benefit of our community. Through the QCitizen ID, we will be able to track if our constituents are receiving the quality service that they truly deserve,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
In this joint undertaking, Smart will provide over 2.2 million Quezon City constituents in 142 barangays free Smart SIMs with load allocation. The mobile numbers from their new Prepaid SIMs will then be recorded on their QCitizen ID registration form and will be activated on the Smart Infocast platform.
Powered by Smart, the Smart Infocast system is a web-based text broadcasting solution that will allow the LGU of Quezon City to disseminate important announcements, updates, and advisories to its citizens by means of text messaging. Users with numbers registered to the database will also be informed of relief distribution schedules, obtain QCitizen ID perks, and enjoy special treats from Smart.
Boosting local employment and economic recovery, PLDT and Smart, through their distributors, will also offer livelihood opportunities such as Smart retailer packages for those who want to start their loading businesses and a recruitment booth for those interested to become full-time or part-time agents selling PLDT Fibr plans.
The connectivity needs of the on-site registration will be enabled by Smart’s network, which has been consistently cited as the fastest mobile network* in the country by leading internet testing and analysis firm Ookla. Ensuring the safety of the applicants, security and crowd control officers will also be deployed to maintain physical distancing and other safety protocols.
Smart supports initiatives like QCitizen ID which, coupled with the Smart Infocast platform, will allow the Local Government of Quezon City maintain a reliable record of its constituents, as well as cultivate a city of informed citizens who stay abreast of this ongoing outbreak.
The QCitizen ID project is aligned with Smart’s thrust in its ‘Live Smarter for a Better World’ campaign, which elevates Smart’s long-running community partnership programs and enables ‘personal revolutions’ that inspire lasting positive change through connectivity and CSR initiatives. This is also in line with the Group’s long-standing commitment to help the Philippines attain the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
