Telcos: Communication services mostly back in Odette-hit areas

Local telecommunication firms said Sunday that majority of their sites hit by Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) have been restored, but networks in a number of areas remain down.

According to an advisory of PLDT Inc., 96% of its wireless sires in Mindanao are up as of 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 19. Remaining down sites are mostly in Surigao del Norte, including Siargao, Misamis Oriental, and Dinagat Islands.

The group’s fixed service in the area is 99% up, with its six remaining nodes down due to commercial power failure.

In the Visayas, PLDT said 78% of its wireless sites have gone up, with a big part of down sites due to commercial power failure and others due to transmission breaks. Fixed services are 54% up, with major areas for restoration in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and the Negros provinces.

Majority of areas in Palawan are also still up for restoration, as several roads remain inaccessible.

For its part, Globe Telecom Inc. said it has already restored services in Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

“In the aftermath of typhoon Odette, about 40 towers were affected across Visayas and Mindanao. The higher impact were reported in Cebu, Negros, Bohol, and Leyte There were about 20 towers badly hit in Cebu,” the firm said.

It has also set up 16 Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging (LTLC) stations in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, and it has extended a one-day unlimited text to all networks to prepaid customers in the areas affected by the typhoon.

“Connectivity is crucial most especially in calamity situations like this. We wish to enable our customers to avail of needed services, have access to news and information and above all, have peace of mind so they can connect and reach out to their loved ones wherever they are,” Globe Chief Commercial Officer Issa Guevarra-Cabreira said.

Odette left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon, after causing “total devastation” of some areas on its path. —LBG, GMA News