Globe, Smart services restored in most Ompong-hit areas

By Aerol John Pateña

September 18, 2018, 2:56 pm

MANILA -- Globe Telecom reported that its network repair crews have managed to restore services to the municipality of Baggao in Cagayan province, a town hard hit by Typhoon Ompong.

“This means all Globe cell sites in all localities in Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte are now fully restored," Globe management said in a statement on Tuesday.

The telco's management further said that it "is exerting all means possible to immediately restore critical telecommunications services in five more municipalities in Abra.”

Widespread power outages and multiple fiber cuts brought about by the strong winds of ‘Ompong’ caused network disruptions in the provinces of Cagayan, Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Norte, it explained.

Globe said it has deployed its Libreng Tawag and free charging stations in the following areas: Barangay halls of Nambaran, Bulanao and Magsaysay, all in Tabuk, Kalinga; SMC warehouse in Kalinga; Dagupan Public Market; Baguio Athletic Bowl; Itogon Training Center in Baguio; Evi Gas Station in Tuguegarao; Globe Cell Site Centro East Ballesteros in Cagayan Valley; Onon Hub in Sta. Maria, Cagayan Valley; and Globe cell site in Abulug, Cagayan Valley.

It has also extended its free and unlimited GoWiFi service to Robinsons Ilocos, Robinsons Laoag, and Robinsons Tuguegarao until Wednesday, September 19.

For its part, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications said that more than 90 percent of its services have been restored in Northern Luzon.

“Our fixed and wireless network restoration efforts are mostly focused on the hardest hit areas of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Benguet and Mountain Province where transport conditions remain difficult due to landslides, damaged roadways and bridges and widespread power outages. We continue to work with local governments and disaster response agencies to gain access to these areas,” according to PLDT-Smart.

It has set up free charging and call stations to provide assistance to its subscribers in areas affected by the typhoon. (PNA)

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