National Telecommunications Commission provincial OIC for Negros Oriental and Siquijor, Felipe Gumalo. (PNA file photo by Judy Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) field office in Negros Oriental has requested Globe Telecommunications to increase its bandwidth for Siquijor province amid the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in response to the clamor of health care workers.
NTC-Negros Oriental officer-in-charge provincial chief Felipe Gumalo, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday, said medical doctors in the island-province had requested him for a stronger signal especially at the Siquijor Provincial Hospital.
“I already spoke to Globe and they are now working on the signal enhancement, as doctors are complaining of poor signal, especially in the emergency room and the isolation area,” Gumalo said.
He said they want to make sure that telecommunication companies (telcos) provide uninterrupted services especially at this time of a pandemic.
Gumalo said he still has to talk to Smart Wireless, for signal enhancement.
It was not immediately known how soon Globe could boost the internet signal in Siquijor, he said.
Siquijor, which is part of Gumalo’s area of coverage, is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases since the start of this month.
The Department of Health in Region 7 (Central Visayas) reported on its Facebook page a total of 868 active cases in the province, with three new infections as of September 28. (PNA)
