Amid the mounting crisis in Afghanistan, PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is extending assistance to all Filipinos stranded in the country.

Smart is giving all Afghanistan-based Filipinos prepaid load on their Smart roaming SIMs to make urgent calls and texts to coordinate their evacuation or to assure their families and friends of their safety or whereabouts. They will also receive a free Roam Lite 250 subscription with 200MB open access for web surfing and social media app usage valid for three days to help them stay informed of the situation in the conflict-ridden country.

Smart roamers in Afghanistan can also get instant and free access to Smart’s data roaming manager by going to http://roam.smart.com.ph using their Smart roaming SIM.

“We are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and are ready to provide assistance to our kababayans. Access to communication and information during this time of crisis is of extreme importance. We are also praying for their safety as they await evacuation,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recently issued Alert Level 4 for the whole of Afghanistan due to the unrest in the country as the Taliban solidify their control of the capital. Flights have been cancelled and the government has fallen. Filipinos in Afghanistan who need help were advised to contact the Philippine embassy in Pakistan via its Facebook page, through email at isbpeatn@gmail.com, or WhatsApp or Viber at +92 33-3524-4762.