PLDT and Smart are strengthening digital inclusion efforts by equipping visually impaired women and girls with essential cybersecurity skills through an accessibility-focused cyber safety workshop.
Organized by Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) in partnership with the Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office and APNIC Foundation, the initiative forms part of PLDT and Smart’s #KonektedforInclusion and #KonektedforSaferInternet programs.
The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge on recognizing phishing attempts, avoiding online scams, protecting personal information, and securing online accounts through PLDT and Smart’s #BeCyberSmart module.
Stephanie V. Orlino, Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, emphasized that cybersecurity awareness has become a critical life skill in today’s digital environment. She said empowering persons with disabilities with cyber safety knowledge helps create a more inclusive and secure online ecosystem.
Designed specifically for women and girls with visual impairment, the three-day training addressed emerging digital risks, including AI-generated content, online harassment, misinformation, and digital exclusion. The program highlighted the importance of ensuring that both accessibility and cybersecurity are integrated into digital empowerment efforts.
Participants shared practical advice learned during the workshop, including limiting the amount of personal information shared online, enabling multi-factor authentication, and verifying the legitimacy of job offers, promotions, and prize notifications before responding.
The initiative builds on earlier digital safety workshops conducted by PLDT, Smart, ATRIEV, and APNIC Foundation at the Philippine National School for the Blind and the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center, expanding efforts to provide internet safety education to persons with disabilities.
The cyber safety campaign complements the PLDT Group’s broader cybersecurity initiatives. During the first half of 2026, the PLDT and Smart Cyber Security Operations Group blocked more than 209 billion attempts to access malicious domains, including phishing websites, and blacklisted over 193,000 URLs associated with phishing, spam, and online hoaxes.
Smart also reported blocking nearly 1.6 billion scam text messages and more than 373,000 mobile numbers linked to fraudulent activities, underscoring the growing role of technology and cybersecurity infrastructure in protecting Filipinos from online threats.
Through digital inclusion programs and continued investments in cybersecurity, PLDT and Smart aim to create safer and more accessible digital experiences for all sectors of society.
