Smart, Sun sustain comm assistance, network restoration efforts

SMART Communications Inc. (Smart) and Sun Cellular (Sun) are sustaining efforts to provide communications assistance to residents in areas affected by Tropical Storm Ruby even as previously disrupted network coverage in many areas has already been restored.

Smart and Sun Libreng Tawag and charging stations are still open for the public in the Legislative Building lobby of the Cebu City Hall, and San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Bogo City, Province of Cebu.

In Catbalogan, Samar, free charging can be availed at the PLDT Tower in the city.

Libreng Tawag stations have also been opened to residents of affected municipalities in Quezon, Marinduque, and Samar. For Quezon, these are in Barangay Sto. Domingo and Barangay 3 Poblacion in Calauag, Poblacion and San Isidro in Catanauan, and Tagkawayan. In Marinduque, residents can proceed to Loading Station, Pag-asa in Sta. Cruz and ASD office in San Miguel, Boac.

For Eastern Samar, while mobile signal has been restored in Borongan City, residents can still avail of free calls in Borongan City Hall.

In Northern Samar, free calls can be made in in Catarman Municipal Hall.

Additional call stations using Smart Satellite phones will soon be set up in Palapag/Gamay, Dolores and Taft.

“For our Libreng Tawag efforts, we are now focusing on areas where these services are needed most. These are in areas where network signal restoration has just been completed or is still ongoing. We have also deployed portable power generation sets in Eastern Samar, Sorsogon, Quezon and Marinduque where commercial power has not yet been fully switched on to ensure our continuous operations as well as for free device charging for residents,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart and Sun.

While no major facilities were damaged, the telcos expect full restoration soon in the few remaining areas that have service interruptions.

“Based on inspection on ground, we indeed verified that our network did not suffer major facility damages, as we’ve initially assessed. The restoration work in remaining areas are mainly due to misaligned antenna and prolonged power outage. Logistics and transport are main challenges due to damaged roads and bridges. We have been bringing in additional fuel and generator sets to ensure continuous operations,” added Isberto.

Before, during and after the typhoon, Smart and Sun Cellular services have remained on-air in Albay, Batangas, Cebu, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Quezon and Sorsogon.

Expected minor service interruptions experienced in these areas due to strong winds were quickly normalized. The only remaining restoration work for these areas are in Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate and Banton in Romblon but these cellsites are expected to be up soon.

For Biliran, network signal has remained continuously on-air in Caibiran, while services in Cabugcayan and Culaba have been restored.

In Eastern Samar, coverage has been restored in Arteche, Borongan City, Maslog, and Maydolong. For Balangiga, General Mc Arthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Jipapad, Lawaan, and Quinapondan were not affected, providing crucial communications even during the height of the typhoon.

In Leyte, services in 11 cities and municipalities were not affected while services have been back in Abuyog, Alangalang, Albuera, Babatngon, Bato, Baybay, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dulag, Hindang, Isabel, Jaro, Javier, Kananga, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Merida, Ormoc City, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Tabango, Tabontabon, Tacloban City, Tolosa, Tunga ang Villaba. Only Barugo, Calubian and San Miguel remain to be restored.

For Northern Samar, except for remaining work in Biri, signal has been up for all other 18 areas, which include Allen, Bobon, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Las Navas, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Isidro, San Antonio, San Jose, and Silvino Lobos.

In Southern Leyte, all 18 cities and municipalities are now enjoying normal coverage, having been just slightly affected by network interruptions.

In Western Samar, only the towns of Motiong and San Jorge remain to be connected, as services in Basey, Calbayog City, Calbiga, Catbalogan City, Daram, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Matuguinao, Paranas, Pinbacdao, San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Villareal and Zumarraga have been restored. No service outage was reported for Gandara, Marabut, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Rita and Tarangnan.

“Our assessment so far indicates that our network preparations and resiliency efforts have paid off. Only areas that bore the initial strong onslaught of the typhoon were predominantly affected. It was also good that Pagasa's weather forecasts were on spot as we decided not to pre-emptively shutdown facilities because the benefits to the communities of having communications services at that time outweighed our operational risks,” said Isberto.

For more updates on Ruby-related efforts, information is regularly made available via official company social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter as well as through the #SafePh page at www.smart.com.ph/about/safeph. (PR)