Telcos ordered to speed up repair of services in areas to be affected by Mawar

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Friday ordered all public telecommunications entities to expedite the repair and restoration of services in areas that will be affected by the incoming Super Typhoon Mawar.
 
The NTC said public telecommunication entities must also ensure a sufficient number of technical and support personnel and standby generators with extra fuel, tools, and spare equipment.
 
“Further, you are also directed to deploy Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging Stations in strategic areas that will be affected by the typhoon. You are also reminded to coordinate with the LGUs and observe strict health protocols to avoid transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19),” NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said in a memorandum.

“The commission will expect status updates every six hours of ongoing restoration activities being performed on your network and facilities and a timeline for the full restoration of service,” she added.
 
Mawar was last seen 1,725 kilometers east of Central Luzon at 3 p.m., according to the state weather bureau PAGASA.
 
It was moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h) and packing maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center, with gustiness of up to 265 km/h.
 
Mawar is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or Saturday morning and will be called “Betty.”
 
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said storm signals may be raised over portions of Luzon upon Mawar’s entry to PAR.  —VBL, GMA Integrated News