NTC orders Smart, Globe to render free calls in areas affected by typhoon

On Monday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it has ordered Globe Telecom and Smart Communications to give free calls and put up charging stations for Filipinos affected by Typhoon Rolly.

Photo credit: gizguide.com

In a memorandum signed by NTC commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba, the NTC said it has also ordered its officials in the Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Bicol regions to monitor the compliance of the telcos with the “Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging Stations” directive. The order is valid until November 8. 

Director Arnold Barcelona of NTC Region IV-A(CALABARZON), Director Ronald Cabute of NTC Region IV-B(MIMAROPA) and Director Ariel Padilla of NTC Region V(Bicol) were tasked by the commission to monitor and oversee the implementation of the NTC memorandum in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

PLDT-Smart said it has already deployed Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging in the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Pampanga and Sorsogon. 

However, customers in areas that were hardest hit including the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur and Norte may still experience connectivity issues due to commercial power failure and transport-related concerns.

On the other hand, Globe said it has restored mobile and internet services in Camarines Norte.

The Ayala-led telco however said its call, text and data services in parts of Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque, Samar and Western Samar continue to be affected. 

Rest assured that our Globe technical teams are addressing the issue to bring our services back to normal as soon as possible,

Globe said.