PLDT restores 86% of its fixed lines, 99% for Smart services in Visayas as of March 2022

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. reported that they had restored services by up to 99 percent for wireless customers and 86 percent for fixed customers in the Visayas, continues to fast tracks last mile in Mandaue and Mactan completed fixes in Bohol and Negros Island, post Odette and full restoration is expected in March to mid-April.

PLDT bared that its full restoration efforts are on catch up mode because of extensive fiber cuts in areas such as Mactan and Mandaue and its teams are also replacing the remaining copper connections with fiber optic cables.  Some parts of Cebu and Bohol still face commercial power difficulties, accidental cuts due to ongoing clearing operations and fiber optic cable theft in Cebu.

According to Cathy Yang, FVP & Group Head, Corporate Communications, PLDT & Smart that in the meantime PLDT/Smart provided customers using Smart’s prepaid WiFi devices with free initial load of 10GB and for those without Smart devices, they are topping up data load of 20 GB with 30 days validity to ensure a steady connection all throughout the restoration period.

“We have deployed supplemental manpower from teams in Luzon and other parts of the country to fully restore fixed services. We assure corresponding rebates will be applied to the bills of affected customers, and there will be no disconnection of accounts due to non-payment,” Yang said.

Yang added that PLDT/Smart’s organic personnel, about 1000 of them plus on-organic personnel from partner-suppliers and contractors were deployed in Odette-hit areas in the Visayas to expedite full restoration before the first week of March in Samar, Leyte, Negros Island and some parts of Cebu, and by mid-April for Mactan, Mandaue and Bohol. 

According to PLDT/Smart that while restoration is still ongoing, they continue to extend communications aid where needed, such as setting up free calling, charging, and WiFi stations to over 50 areas in Visayas and Mindanao.  Additional assistance is also being extended to affected customers via service rebates and relief packs.

As of first week of March, PLDT bared that they had fully restored its fixed services in Negros Island while its mobile services arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has fully restored its wireless services in Bohol. 

PLDT/Smart bared that one of the emergency response initiatives that immediately helped bring back communication services in Bohol was the use of Multi-equipment on wheels (MEOW), a portable cell site and satellite communications suite providing immediate communication support in lieu of the three collapsed Smart towers in the towns of Trinidad, Jetafe, and Danao.

PLDT/Smart have also deployed Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging stations as communication aid to hard-hit communities in Bohol and southern Negros and also distributed over 3000 relief packs to affected residents in those areas. (Photos: PLDT/Smart)