PLDT, Smart say telco services nearing full restoration in Odette-hit areas

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. said Friday the restoration of its telecommunications services in Odette-hit Visayas and Mindanao is nearing full completion.

In a statement, PLDT-Smart said that by  Friday morning, wireless services were up 98% in Mindanao while fixed services were restored in 99% of the southern Philippines region.

The group said its personnel are also working double time to restore communication services in more areas in Siargao, one of the worst hit provinces by super typhoon Odette.

Pre-positioned teams and equipment made it possible for Smart to reconnect the municipality of Dapa earlier this week as more personnel arrive in the island to boost repairs and restoration efforts, PLDT-Smart said.

The group said its technical teams work around the clock to bring more areas back online in Visayas.

“By Friday morning, wireless services are up 90% in the region while fixed services are back in 62% of areas,” it said.

PLDT-Smart said its personnel work around the clock to restore communication services in other severely impacted communities in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Negros provinces.

However, commercial power limitations as well as accidental cuts during clearing operations impact repairs.

“Wireless services are also back in 79% of Palawan. On Wednesday, Smart was first to restore communication in the southern part of the province after firing up its 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G sites,” PLDT-Smart said.

The group reminded customers in previously restored areas that they may experience service quality issues due to commercial power failures and line cuts during clearing operations.

The group is also bringing aid to residents in typhoon-hit communities and opened donation facilities to enable more customers to send aid to impacted communities.

“Smart, Sun, and TNTph customers can send help via the Text-to-Donate platform that allows mobile phone users, anywhere in the world, to send donations. To donate, customers may text “DONATE<space>[XX]” to 3456 with the following denominations – 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000,” it said.

“The service also complements the ongoing donation drive of the group’s social outreach arm, PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) in collaboration with PayMaya,” it said.

“So far, PLDT and Smart, together with PSF, have sent more than 13,000 packs of relief goods to typhoon victims in Visayas and Mindanao,” it added.—LDF, GMA News