Telcos offer free SMS service in Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Telecommunication companies will provide 25 free local and international text messages per day effective for five days, the Philippine Information Agency said Wednesday.
After supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) paralyzed the entire Tacloban city and some areas in the Visayas, Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular came up with 25 free texts available to all mobile phone users.
According to the statement released by the state-run information body, residents of Tacloban city, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Leyte, Northern Cebu and Samar provinces may avail the text promos in light of the devastation of one of the strongest typhoons in history.
Starting Wednesday, the 25 free short message service (SMS) will be available until November 17.
The statement said subscribers need not register for the promo to avail of the free service.
“It will be pushed automatically to subscribers at the start of each day. Subscribers will receive SMS notifications once the bundles are sent,” the announcement said.
Globe Telecom susbribers, Chief Operating Advisor for Globe Consumer Business Group Peter Bithos said the free service is open to all Globe Postpaid, Globe Prepaid, and Touch Mobile (TM) subcribers in the 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,” Bithos said
Charles A. Lim, executive vice president of Smart Communication and chief operating officer of Digital Mobile Philippines said: “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.”
For Globe and TM subscribers, the free service can be availed by texting BangonPinoy to 8888.
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