3 telco giants are now working together to assist and help our fellow countrymen who were affected by the typhoon Yolanda. This is the first time in history that the three telcos are sharing one PR article. I’m posting it here just to let everyone know that they are offering free SMS service in the Yolanda-stricken areas.
Thanks Abbi for this news.
PRESS RELEASE
Smart, Sun and Globe offer 25 free local and int’l SMS to Eastern Visayas and northern Cebu subscribers
To help the communities severely affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the country’s three mobile phone operators -- Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular -- have agreed to provide 25 free SMS per day for five days that may be used for local and international text messages.
The joint offer will be available to subscribers in Tacloban City and the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Leyte, northern Cebu and the Samar.
"This is a time for Filipinos to come together and help our countrymen in their hour of great need. This joint effort will help Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk 'N Text subscribers in the typhoon-struck areas to communicate with their loved ones at home and abroad," said Charles A. Lim, executive vice president of Smart and chief operating officer of Digital Mobile Philippines.
“This free service is open to all Globe Postpaid, Globe Prepaid, and TM subs in these Eastern Visayas provinces. This is the company’s way of giving assistance to our customers who are suffering from the typhoon’s onslaught and who need to reach out to their family and friends in the country and abroad,” said Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor for Globe Consumer Business Group.
The free 25 daily SMS bundles are available from November 13 to 17 and can be used to send text messages across all networks. There is also an allocation for international SMS. It will be pushed automatically to subscribers at the start of each day. Subscribers will receive SMS notifications once the bundles are sent. No registration is required.
The three operators came to this unprecedented agreement in response to the extreme devastation caused by the super typhoon. They are also working to restore their respective services and assist emergency relief activities of the government and humanitarian agencies.
For Globe and TM subscribers, the free service can be availed by texting BangonPinoy to 8888.
--- and here’s another PR release from SMART ---
Free local and int’l SMS for Smart, Sun and TnT subscribers in Yolanda-stricken areas
To augment the existing Libreng Tawag services in several typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is providing free all-network and International SMS bundle to Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text subscribers to help them connect with families and loved ones.
The free SMS bundle, comprised of 25 all-net text and three international text messages will automatically be available daily for five days beginning midnight of November 13, 2013 for both postpaid and prepaid subscribers. The service does not require any registration.
The offer is initially available in hard hit areas Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Leyte, Northern Cebu, Palawan and Samar, where an estimated five million subscriber base stand to benefit.
Restoration of network facilities in these areas commenced immediately in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in order to provide vital communication services to the various institutional partners and local government units involved in coordinating post-disaster response efforts. As of November 12, 82% of the network has been restored.
Libreng Tawag stations continue to operate in the following areas:
· PNP Headquarters, Tacloban City, Leyte
· PLDT Office, Jones St., Tacloban City, Leyte
· DSWD booth, Tacloban City Hall
· Smart cellsite near VNG Subdivision, Tacloban City, Leyte
· Municipal Hall, Palo, Leyte
· Smart Store, Ormoc City, Leyte (with free mobile phone charging)
· Ormoc City Plaza, Ormoc City, Leyte
· Ormoc airport, Ormoc City, Leyte
· Municipal Hall, San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu
· Cebu Cultural Center, Bantayan Island
· Smart cellsite in Sta.Fe, Bantayan Island (with free mobile phone charging)
· Madridejos Municipal Hall, Bantayan Island (with free mobile phone charging)
Charging of mobile handset batteries are also being offered for free in the Smart cell site facility in Roxas City, Capiz and in Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan.
