Globe, Smart shut mobile services during Dinagyang Festival

Telecommunication giants Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. announced on Saturday the temporary suspension of its mobile phone services during the Dinagyang festivities on January 21 to 22.

In a statement, Globe said that their move is in compliance with directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to temporarily suspend mobile services in some areas of festivities relating to the Dinagyang festival in Iloilo City as public safety and security measure.

“Similar to directive we received from the NTC during the recent Black Nazarene and Sinulog events, we are compelled to temporarily suspend mobile services in some event areas of the Dinagyang Festival and we would like to appeal for our customers’ understanding,” Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said.

Likewise, Smart Communications said, in an advisory posted on its Facebook page, that the services of Smart, TNT, and Sun will be temporarily unavailable at the main Dinagyang Festival activity area and specific areas in Iloilo City, such as Plaza Libertad, Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Mabini, Quezon, Iznart, and Rizal streets, Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Esplanade 1 & 2, The Atria, Plazuela and SM City.

"Nearby areas and surrounding municipalities may also be affected if mobile phone signals coming from cell sites servicing these places reach the main festival zones.  We shall provide further information as needed during the festival,” Smart added.

The telco noted that the suspension of its services is directed by the NTC and the Philippine National Police in the "interest of public safety.”

"We will restore our mobile phone services as soon as we are given the go-signal by the authorities," it said. —LBG, GMA News