Globe, Smart make free phone calls available in Lawin-struck areas

To help the victims of Super Typhoon Lawin, Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc.'s mobile subsidiary Smart Communications are letting them make calls free of charge.

In a statement on Friday, Globe said it has set up "Libreng Tawag" and "Libreng Charging" stations in severely affected provinces - Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Cagayan.

Globe's free calls and charging stations are available until October 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Cauayan, Isabela and until October 24 in following locations:

• Isabela - Cauayan City Hall, Globe PD Store across Ilagan Public Market, Cabagan and Tumauini Municipal halls
• Ilocos Norte - Provincial Capitol, Paoay Civic Center, Badoc Municipal Hall
• Ilocos Sur - Vigan Public Market, Bantay Arcade, Sto. Domingo Public Market
• Mt. Province - Poblacion, Bontoc
• Benguet - Brgy. Hall Dominican Hill, Baguio City
• La Union - Poblacion, Bacnotan; Bangar Public Market
• Cagayan, Tuguegarao City - Brgy Namabbalan Norte, Brgy. Pengue Ruyu, Brgy. Gosi, Brgy Buntun, Brgy Carig, Onon Marketing Office, Onon Marketing Warehouse, Brgy. Dadda, Brgy. Tagga, Brgy. Larion

On the other hand, Smart's free calls station is located in Brgy. Santa, Tumauini, Isabela; and its free charging stations are in Brgy. 02 Baler, Aurora; San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City; La Trinidad, Benguet; Smart Cellsite in Poblacion Ilagan, Isabela; Municipal Hall of Poblacion Abatan, Benguet; Brgy. Dubinan West, Santiago City; Brgy. Palma Urbano, Baguio City.

Aside from setting up "Libreng Tawag" and "Libreng Charging" stations, Globe also gave its active TM customers in Cagayan Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Aurora, and Abra free calls and text for one day.

Meanwhile, the two telcos along with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) were criticized by Sen. Grace Poe and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlo Isagani Zarate by allegedly failing to comply with the law requiring them to send free alerts during the disaster.

The NDRRMC, Globe, and PLDT debunked the allegations and emphasized they sent out are specific text alerts to subscribers located in provinces hit by Lawin. —NB, GMA News