PLDT and SMART provide free calls, relief assistance to Ondoy victims
[September 29, 2009/MANILA] The Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Group, through wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and the PLDT-SMART Foundation, were among those that quickly came to the aid of communities affected by tropical storm Ondoy.
The PLDT Group donated P5 million to the ABS-CBN Foundation for its response and relief efforts. The PLDT-SMART Foundation, with the help of employee-volunteers from SMART and the Tollways Management Corp., also distributed relief packs among affected residents in barangays Barangka and Tañong in Marikina City. Similar relief distribution activities will also be scheduled in Pasig City and Cainta.
SMART is also arranging for the distribution of relief goods among affected residents in Marilao, Bulacan and Arayat, Pampanga within the week.
Libreng Tawag centers were immediately set up at the Barangka Barangay Hall in Marikina City, Ever Gotesco Mall in Pasig City and at the Cainta Municipal Hall to enable affected residents to make free calls, especially since SMART was the only telco whose communication signal remained strong at this time. An additional free calling facility will also be set up in San Mateo, Rizal. In addition to free calls, charging of cell phones are also accommodated at the SMART Libreng Tawag centers.
Free medical consultations and medicines will also be made available in clinics that will be set up next to the Libreng Tawag Centers by PLDT Medical Services, Makati Medical Center and Cardinal Santos.
SMART, a long-time active partner of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) in disaster-preparedness and response, is also helping facilitate donations via SMS and Smart Money .
SMART subscribers interested in donating to PNRC can text RED<space>AMOUNT to 4483 for free. Cash donations in P10, P25, P50 and P100 denominations are accepted via the SMS facility. Only the donated amount will be deducted from the subscriber’s current load. To donate via Smart Money, subscribers can text ONDOY <amount> to 270 for only P1 per transaction. The donated amount will be deducted from the subscriber’s Smart Money account.
Those who want to donate relief goods can turn them over to selected SMART and PLDT business centers that include: SM Muntinlupa, SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, Festival Mall, Ali Mall, Gateway, SM Fairview, SM North Annex, ATC South Mall and Megamall.
Tropical storm Ondoy lashed the country Saturday causing severe flooding in several areas. The whole of Metro Manila and 25 Luzon provinces were placed under a state of calamity. SMART’s typhoon Ondoy relief operations is part of Kabalikat sa Kaligtasan, its disaster-response and emergency preparedness program and the ‘Community Care’ program of the Customer Care Experience Center.
