BRAVO FILIPINO | PLDT and Smart close to regaining full service in Mindanao and Visayas after Odette | Reconnecting more areas in the Visayas and Mindanao after the onslaught of the super typhoon #OdettePH has been achieved by PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart).
Wireless services in Mindanao are nearly back to normal at 96%, and fixed services are nearly back to normal at 99%. In spite of this, major restoration efforts are ongoing in Surigao del Norte, including Siargao, Misamis Oriental, and the Dinagat Islands in the region.
85% of wireless services have been restored in Visayas, and 69 % of fixed services have been restored. In Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Negros provinces, there is still a lot of work to be done. The restoration process in the Visayas is being slowed down because of the lengthy delay in resuming commercial power supply in Cebu and the difficulty in obtaining fuel for gensets used to power telecommunications facilities.
Full-fledged restoration efforts are underway
There have been additional personnel and equipment dispatched to Siargao and Palawan in order to begin repair work as soon as the roads are cleared of fallen trees.
With the help of Pacific Global One Aviation (PLDT’s air transport arm), PLDT chartered its first two flights to Palawan and Siargao today. In a chartered Agusta Westland helicopter, a Smart engineer flew from Manila to Puerto Princesa in Palawan with satellite dishes, satellite phones, and other network gear.
Super King Air 350 of PLDT flew Smart engineers and critical equipment from Manila to Siargao and Cebu in three separate flights at 2:15 p.m. It appears that both charter flights have arrived at their destinations.
Using communication to help
Free Calls and Charging stations have been activated across the Visayas by Smart Communications, Inc. to help those who need it most.
- PLDT Office in Tipolo, Mandaue
- Biasong, Talisay City
- PLDT Office, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City
- Pagtimbayayong Foundation, Cebu City
- J Clarin St., Tagbilaran City, Bohol
- Evacuation Center, Brgy. Balocawehay, Abuyog, Leyte
- Tomas Oppus St. Brgy. Tagnipa, Maasin City
- Asuncion, Maasin City
- Kabankalan, Negros Occidental
- Villamonte, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
- Sipalay, Negros Occidental
- San Vicente, Baclayon, Bohol
In the coming days, PLDT and Smart will set up more free calls and charging stations in the Visayas and Mindanao.
As a result, customers are given a break.
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart are providing bill rebates and calamity load assistance to severely affected customers in Visayas and Mindanao in the wake of typhoon Odette.
Service fees incurred during typhoon Odette will not be charged to customers in the Visayas and Mindanao affected by this storm. As a result, there will be no interruption of service until January of next year, and the rebate we’ll credit to customers in January/February 2022 will be reflected in their bills at that time.
In the wake of Odette’s onslaught, PLDT group is making it easier for customers who have been severely affected to get back on their feet. SMS notifications will be sent to PLDT customers who are eligible for bill rebates. Smart is currently distributing calamity load assistance to those in Visayas and Mindanao who have been most affected.
Communities receive assistance.
With the help of PLDT and Smart, they have also provided much-needed assistance in the form of generators, prepaid load, and food packs to affected communities, such as Brgy. Ampayon in Butuan City and Maasin City in Southern Leyte.
Local government units, PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), and Smart and PLDT’s provincial distributors were all involved in the distribution of close to 2,000 relief packages to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
PLDT, Smart, PSF, and their partners’ ongoing communication and relief aid underscores the group’s commitment, led by its Chairman MVP, “to take every available measure to assist.” Other MVP-led organizations, including the companies, are also working together to mobilize resources to help those affected by typhoon Odette.
SOURCE: PLDT Inc.
