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Globe, Smart put up free call, charging, WiFi stations in Karding-hit areas


Major telecommunications firms have started to restore network services in areas hit by Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru), with free call and charging stations put up in select areas.

Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. said it has fully restored services in the National Capital Region (NCR), and is nearing full restoration in the Polillo Group of Islands where only Panukalan has limited services.

It said some 80% of municipalities in Rizal province that encountered typhoon-related outages have also been reconnected.

Globe's free call, charging, and WiFi stations began operations in four barangays in Nueva Ecija — Barangays Valenzuela, H. Concepcion, Zulueta, and Diversion — at noon on Monday.

These stations will remain operational until 7 p.m., and again from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 27 and 28.

It will also start three stations in Quezon province which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 27 to 29 — Infanta Municipal Plaza, Polillo Municipal Plaza, and Burdeos Municipal Plaza.

For its part, Pangilinan-led PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. said it already started restoration of network services in Karding-hit areas at 7 a.m. on Monday.

“The network services of PLDT and Smart also remain stable for the connectivity needs of communities and institutions, except in areas affected by commercial power failure,” it said in a separate advisory.

It has put up free calls and charging stations in Bataan (PD Higet); Aurora (Aurora Tel Quezon St.); Quezon (Navarro Minimart in Infanta and Bonifacio St. in Polillo); and Tarlac (CKC, S&S Supermarket in Moncada and Infinireach in Tarlac City).

It has also put up free calls, charging, and WiFi stations in Bulacan (One RS), and Nueva Ecija (Smartzone Office, Lazaro Francisco Integrated School, Sebenz Loading Station, PLDT SSC Cabanatuan, and PLDT Gapan).

Other stations are available in Pampanga (RJP at Candaba Convention and KIANA at Masantol); and Zambales (PD Unitek).

At least four areas were still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as of Monday morning, based on the 11 a.m. bulletin of the state weather bureau.

Karding is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday evening.

#GCashforGood

Meanwhile, GCash has mobilized its #GCashForGood donation drive to help raise funds for the relief and recovery operations.

“In times of crisis, it’s vital for us to come together and extend help to those affected by Typhoon Karding. GCash is one with government agencies and various organizations in heightening relief efforts to ensure that we can lend assistance to as many of our kababayans as possible," GCash chief customer officer Winsley Bangit said.

#GCashForGood is now accepting donations starting September 25, 2022 via its
#GCashGivesBack Pay Bill wallet and Quick Response Code (QR Code).

To send funds for the typhoon victims, GCash users can click “Pay Bills” on the GCash app, tap “Others”, click the “#GCashGivesBack and type your information and click “Confirm”.

GCash partners include GMA Kapuso Foundation, Caritas Manila, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Philippine Red Cross, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya, Ayala Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision. — DVM, GMA News

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