Public telcos directed to restore service swiftly in quake-affected areas

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has directed public telecommunications entities to swiftly repair and restore telecommunication services in areas severely affected by Wednesday's earthquake in Abra.

In a memorandum signed by NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba on Wednesday, the public telecommunications entities were also directed to ensure a sufficient number of technical and support personnel and standby generators with extra fuel, tools, and spare equipment in the affected areas.

“The commission will expect status updates of the ongoing restoration activities being performed on your network and facilities and a timeline for the full restoration of service,” the memorandum read.

The NTC earlier ordered telecommunications companies to provide free call and charging services in areas hit by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Wednesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday said the number of fatalities has climbed to five.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the latest reported death was in Ilocos Sur.

Based on its 6 a.m. report, NDRRMC said 131 people were hurt due to the earthquake.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the quake (earlier reported as magnitude 7.3) occurred at 8:43 a.m. on Wednesday and was located at 17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum in Abra. It had a depth of 17 kilometers. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News