Amid continued heavy rains and flooding brought by the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. are providing free calls, texts, and 250MB of data to affected customers in severely impacted areas.
These free services aim to help Filipinos stay in touch with loved ones and access critical information during this period of disruption.
“Staying connected is a lifeline in times like these,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart. “We don’t hesitate to support our customers when it matters most. Our entire Group is mobilizing to help as many Filipinos as we can.”
Pangilinan, who is also President and CEO of Meralco, also directed the power company to position and deploy high bed and amphibious trucks, motorized boats, and trained rescue teams in flooded areas.
Anastacio “Boy” Martirez, COO of Smart, emphasized the importance of rapid response: “We’ve activated free calls, texts, and data in affected areas so our customers can reach out for help, or to their loved ones. Keeping our network up and our services available is our top priority.”
The free calls, text, and data are now accessible to subscribers in Angono, Bataan, Bulacan, Cainta, Las Pinas, Marikina, Mindoro, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasig, Tarlac, Taytay, and Zambales. PLDT and Smart will continue to monitor conditions and coordinate with local authorities to extend assistance where needed.
The Smart Cares Crisis Hotline (+63288457799) also remains open to help customers connect with family members and receive safety advisories. Customers are encouraged to follow official government bulletins and take necessary precautions.
