Manila: Telecommunications companies Globe and PLDT-Smart announced the deployment of free call hubs at local stores in the Philippines to facilitate communication between Filipinos and their loved ones in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict.
According to Philippines News Agency, Globe has rolled out 'hotline hubs' in its stores, enabling families in the Philippines to reach their overseas loved ones without needing personal mobile phones, telephones, or international calling services. The initiative aims to support families in underserved communities who may have limited means of contacting loved ones abroad during uncertain times. These services are available at Globe stores in malls and other commercial establishments across the nation.
PLDT-Smart is also establishing free call stations in select PLDT and Smart stores in major malls nationwide. This effort is an extension of the initial directive from PLDT Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who instructed the Group to activate emergency communication support for Filipinos in affected countries.
The free call hubs complement other services for Filipinos in the Middle East. Globe is offering a complimentary roaming package that includes 15 minutes of roaming calls, 15 SMS, and 1 GB of data, valid for seven days upon activation. Additionally, Globe is providing prepaid/TM load credits and postpaid bill adjustments for customers in Iran and Iraq.
PLDT-Smart is offering free calls to the Philippines via the Tindahan ni Bossing (TinBo) mobile app for customers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE until March 15. In the Philippines, PLDT Home and Enterprise customers, as well as Smart and TNT users, can continue making free International Direct Dialing (IDD) calls to the Gulf States, Israel, and Iran until mid-March.
These initiatives align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call to ensure that overseas Filipinos remain in contact with their families during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In response, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Chairman Ella Blanca Lopez have instructed telecommunications providers to maintain communication lines between Filipinos overseas and their families in the Philippines.
