Amidst the aftermath of super typhoon Odette, PLDT and Smart Communications has restored connections including 5G to Surigao and Misamis Oriental, and in Puerto Princesa in Palawan. This brings much needed communication services in affected areas, allowing access to calls, texts, and mobile internet.
The PLDT group had earlier restored LTE services in Coron, an island group in northern Palawan, allowing customers to, likewise, send SMS and transact on their LTE-enabled mobile phones. Voice call was also available for devices with VoLTE function.
The province of Palawan is among the worst-hit areas following the onslaught of #OdettePH. The tropical cyclone made landfall in the vicinity of Roxas on Friday pounding the entire province with destructive winds and torrential rains.
PLDT and Smart have earlier flown in additional personnel and mission-critical equipment via the group’s private air charter unit Pacific Global One Aviation (PG1) to ramp up repair and restoration activities in the province. They are also are coordinating with local government agencies and partners to send relief aid to Palawan soonest.
Meanwhile, they also brought more areas back online in Surigao del Norte. Smart is first to restore wireless services in the población areas of Tubod and Bad-as, as well as in Barangay Taganito including the Taganito Mining Corporation in the town of Claver. Bad-as is a major network route that connects other municipalities in the province including Placer and Sison.
ALSO READ: You can donate to #OdettePH relief efforts via PLDT-Smart Foundation, powered by PayMaya
Separately, at around the same time, Smart’s wireless service also came back on in heavily hit Misamis Oriental, covering 97% of sites along the stretch from Balingasag to Magsaysay, offering voice, SMS and data to customers.
For those who want to donate and help in the relief efforts can do so via PayMaya. Users can simply scan the PayMaya QR code of the PSF, input the amount, and donate. They can also donate using the Pay Bills Tile in the PayMaya app – click on Donations, choose PSF in the list of partners, enter 00000 in the Account Number field, and input the donation amount. Meanwhile, those who wish to donate using any credit, debit, or prepaid card can go to the online donation page of PSF (https://donate.paymaya.com/donate/oneagainstcovid19/pldt-smart-foundation).
