Smart Infoboard service launched in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY -- The last week of June was a week of firsts for this city, as two institutions announced their Infoboard-driven partnership with wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart).

The local government of Butuan and Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) tapped Smart's Infoboard, a web-based solution offering Short Message Service (SMS) or text facility that enables communities to disseminate information to the mobile phones of subscribed members.

"We use this technology mainly for disaster mitigation and prevention, but the Infoboard has several other applications. Groups can take advantage of the Infoboard to broadcast timely, relevant, and accurate information such as advisories, reports and news," Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando Vea said.

BUTUAN Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. seals partnership with Smart, represented by Dave Alaan, community solutions consultant. (Contributed photo)

According to Smart Community Solutions Consultant Dave Alaan, it was the first time for the Infoboard service to be used by a local government unit in Mindanao.

Mayor Jun Amante of Butuan City recognized Smart for bringing the technology to their city.

"I believe that technology, such as the Infoboard service provided by Smart to the City of Butuan, is a great equalizer because the richest and the poorest alike, can access the same information at the shortest possible time," said Amante.

It was also the first time, in the entire Philippines, that a school's Radio Frequency (RF) ID system was linked to the Smart Infoboard service. With this, parents will no longer have to worry if their children are already inside the school's premises nor wonder what time they left the campus.

Fr. John Young, FSUU President, said: "With our efforts to always improve services, in this case, to improve security for students, we set up the RFID system in partnership with the Hive AVLS, which provides multimedia and business solutions. The timing was just right for this partnership with Smart, as we were then able to link the RFID system with the Infoboard, which I think is a wonderful idea."

Now, parents will get SMS notifications when the students tap their IDs as they go in and out of the campus.

Francis Lim Sr., whose son is enrolled at FSUU, was amazed at how fast he received the notification, as they tested the new system during the launch.

"A few seconds was all it took," Lim said. "I have only seen this technology being used abroad and it's remarkable that it is now here in Butuan." (PR)