PLDT and Smart Luzon Earthquake Advisory

Submitted by ebmendoza on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 16:30

PLDT and Smart EARTHQUAKE ADVISORY #12
PLDT, Smart Libreng Tawag sites remain active in Ilocos Sur, Abra

[03 August 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), continue to operate Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng Charging (free charging), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, and Abra to reconnect residents who were severely affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the region on Wednesday.

ILOCOS SUR

Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza (with Libreng Charging)
Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

PLDT and Smart, together with PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), are working with local officials for the distribution of relief aid in quake-hit communities.

#SafeandSmart

PLDT and Smart EARTHQUAKE ADVISORY #11
PLDT, Smart, PSF extend more relief aid in Abra after quake

[02 August 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), together with the PLDT- Smart Foundatiom (PSF) turned over 600 food packs to the Abra Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office represented by Rene Bersamin and the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Abra represented by Aisle Molina.

The aid will benefit residents in communities that were heavily impacted by Wednesday’s magnitude 7 earthquake. Provincial distributor VNA, as well as community volunteers, helped repack the relief goods.

On top of the aid, PLDT and Smart continue to operate Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng Charging (free charging), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, and Abra to serve the communication needs of affected residents.

ILOCOS SUR

Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza (with Libreng Charging)
Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

#SafeandSmart

PLDT and Smart EARTHQUAKE ADVISORY #10
PLDT, Smart extend free calls, charging to reach more quake victims

[01 August 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), continue to offer free communication services through their Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng Charging (free charging), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, and Abra to aid residents who were heavily impacted by the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the region on Wednesday.

ILOCOS SUR

Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza (with Libreng Charging)
Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

PLDT and Smart, through PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), are coordinating with local government officials for the distribution of relief aid in quake-hit communities in Abra, Benguet, and Ilocos Sur.

#SafeandSmart

Advisory 9: PLDT, Smart extend free calls to quake victims

[31 July 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), has extended the operation of the Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng Charging (free charging), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, and Abra to serve the communication needs of quake-hit residents.

ILOCOS SUR

Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza (with Libreng Charging), Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

PLDT and Smart, through PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), have turned over relief goods to the Benguet Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to be distributed to heavily impacted communities.

PLDT and Smart have also provided emergency load assistance to residents and personnel, allowing them to communicate with their families and loved ones.

Advisory 8: PLDT, Smart, PSF bolster help for quake victims, extending free calls, sending relief goods

Efforts of PLDT, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) are still underway to provide immediate assistance in the form of communication as aid, relief goods, and hygiene kits to communities affected by the recent Magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked North Luzon.

Volunteers and partners of PLDT, Smart, and PSF are working round the clock to prepare relief goods for turnover to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to benefit quake-hit areas of Abra, Benguet and Ilocos Sur in the coming days.

PLDT and Smart have also provided emergency load assistance and Libreng Tawag and Libreng Wi-Fi services to residents and personnel, allowing them to communicate with their families and loved ones.

Advisory 7: PLDT, Smart extend its offer of free calls to quake victims

[30 July 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), continue to operate Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Benguet to serve the communication needs of residents who were impacted by Wednesday’s earthquake.

ILOCOS SUR

Vigan Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor UNP Town Center, Tamag, Vigan City
Candon City PD Office, Corner Gaerlan and Abaya St., San Isidro, Candon
Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza (with Libreng Charging), Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

BENGUET

PD Granville office, Wilson Building, KM4 La Trinidad

The first tranche of relief aid from PLDT, Smart, and the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) are expected to be distributed over the weekend. About 2,000 residents in Abra, Benguet, and Ilocos Sur will benefit from the assistance.

Advisory 6: PLDT, Smart fully restore network, extend communications aid to quake victims

[29 July 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), continue to operate Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Benguet to serve the communication needs of residents who were impacted by Wednesday’s earthquake.

ILOCOS SUR

Vigan Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor UNP Town Center, Tamag, Vigan City
Candon City PD Office, Corner Gaerlan and Abaya St., San Isidro, Candon
Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Bangued Town Plaza, Taft Ave., Poblacion, Bangued

BENGUET

Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center, Strawberry Fields, La Trinidad

PLDT and Smart have also fully restored fixed and wireless services in previously affected areas.

Advisory 5: PLDT, Smart, PSF to send relief goods and provide emergency load to quake victims, sustain communications aid

[28 July 2022] Together with PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), PLDT and wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are set to deploy the first tranche of relief to communities affected by the recent quake. About 2,000 bags of relief goods will benefit the residents of Abra, Benguet and Ilocos Sur.

Smart has also begun sending emergency load assistance to affected customers in Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province—some of the hardest hit areas of the recent Intensity 7 earthquake. The Smart Store SM Baguio has likewise reopened to serve the public.

"We are one with government agencies, local authorities and humanitarian agencies in helping those impacted by the quake, providing them connectivity as aid as well as relief,” said Cathy Yang, FVP & Group Head of Corporate Communications for PLDT and Smart. “We will continue to sustain our assistance as need be, as connectivity plays a crucial role during and in the aftermath of disasters, serving as a lifeline to affected residents and communities.”

Working with local authorities, pre-positioned teams of PLDT and Smart have been deployed to provide immediate response in the form of free call and free wifi services to quake-hit North Luzon. PLDT and Smart Libreng Tawag and Libreng Wifi stations continue to operate in the following locations:

ABRA

HBC Building (in front of Holy Cross School), Laang, Lagangilang, Abra

BENGUET

Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center, Strawberry Fields, La Trinidad Benguet

ILOCOS SUR

Candon City Provincial Distributor Office, Corner Gaerlan and Abaya St, San Isidro, Candon, Ilocos Sur
Landmark Building (front), Jose Singson St, Brgy 8 Poblacion, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Vigan Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor UNP Town Center Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

The network services of PLDT and Smart also remain stable for the connectivity needs of communities and institutions, except for areas affected by commercial power failure and multiple breaks in one the Group’s international submarine cables.

Advisory 4: NETWORK UPDATE FOR NORTH LUZON

[28 July 2022, 10:30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time] Some PLDT and Smart customers in North Luzon may experience intermittent services as the earthquake that struck the region on 27 July 2022 has caused multiple breaks in one of our international submarine cables servicing the area. Our partners are working to repair the break and restore services to normal as quickly as possible. We will provide more updates as they come, thank you for your patience and understanding.

Advisory 3: PLDT, SMART ACTIVATE MORE ‘LIBRENG TAWAG, LIBRENG WIFI’ SITES

[28 July 2022] As of 9am, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), have activated more Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations in Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Benguet to reconnect quake-hit communities in these areas. Previously, PLDT and Smart were the first telcos to set up Libreng Tawag sites in Vigan following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that rocked the region on Wednesday.

ILOCOS SUR

Vigan Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor UNP Town Center, Tamag, Vigan City
Candon City PD Office, Corner Gaerlan and Abaya St., San Isidro, Candon
Landmark Building, Jose Singson St., Barangay VIII, Poblacion, Vigan City

ABRA

Abra PD Office, Horizon St. Zone 7, Bangued

BENGUET

Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center
Strawberry Fields, La Trinidad

#SmartAdvisory

Advisory 2: PLDT, SMART OFFER FREE CALL SERVICES IN QUAKE-HIT ABRA, FIRST IN VIGAN

[27 July 2022] As of 8pm, Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have set up a Libreng Tawag (Free Call) station in quake-hit Abra, following the powerful temblor that hit North Luzon that morning, to serve the communication needs of affected residents in the area.

First to offer free call services in Vigan City, PLDT and Smart have also set up a Libreng Tawag Station (Free Call) in Ilocos Sur earlier that evening. More Libreng Tawag (Free Call) stations in some areas of Ilocos Sur, Benguet, and other affected communities will be available on July 28.

"The services of PLDT and Smart remain operational in the areas affected by the recent magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Abra," said Cathy Yang, First Vice-President and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart. "Customers in North and Central Luzon may experience service interruptions due to commercial power failure."

PLDT and Smart continue to work with local governments and disaster response authorities in earthquake-hit areas to provide communication aid.

Libreng Tawag in Abra

Advisory 1: PLDT, Smart supply communications aid to quake victims

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) have deployed personnel and mission-critical equipment to set up Libreng Tawag (free calls) stations in the provinces of Abra and Ilocos Sur after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Northern Luzon this morning.

The PLDT and Smart network and sales teams on the ground are currently setting up the Libreng Tawag (Free Call) stations at the following areas, to start operations on July 28, Thursday to serve the communication needs of affected residents.

Libreng Tawag Stations

Ilocos Sur

Vigan Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor UNP Town Center, Tamag, Vigan City
Candon City PD Office, Corner Gaerlan and Abaya St., San Isidro, Candon

Abra

Abra PD Office, Horizon St. Zone 7, Bangued

Fixed and wireless services of PLDT and Smart remain operational in Northern and Central Luzon after the earthquake. Response teams onsite continue to assess, repair impacted sites, and quickly restore affected services.

Some customers in earthquake-hit areas may experience temporary service interruptions due to commercial power outage. PLDT and Smart have activated emergency power generators where available to fire up cellsite towers, while working with power companies and local government units to help restore services as soon as possible.

To ensure safety of both customers and employees, Smart Stores in SM Baguio, San Fernando La Union, Candon and Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and Laoag are closed until further notice due to the earthquake. Customers can still check their accounts, avail promos, or pay their bills on the GigaLife App available for download via the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

PLDT and Smart urge everyone in the earthquake-hit communities to take necessary precautions and to monitor the alerts and warnings of local governments and disaster response authorities.

STORE CLOSURES

[27 July 2022] PLDT and Smart Stores in SM Baguio, San Fernando La Union, Candon Ilocos Sur, Vigan, and Laoag are closed until further notice due to the earthquake that affected Luzon earlier today. To check your accounts, avail promos, or pay your bills, you may use the GigaLife App available for download via the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

NETWORK UPDATE

[27 July 12:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time] The earthquake that struck Luzon earlier today has caused power failures in several areas. Emergency power generators are active in our towers where available and we are working with power companies and local government units to help restore services as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.