PLDT and Smart have prepositioned personnel, back-up power supply and network
equipment to be deployed at a moment’s notice to sites that may be damaged by the
cyclone.
Smart’s Libreng Tawag (free call) stations are also on standby. They are ready to be
sent to areas that will be heavily impacted by the cyclone. In the interest of public
safety, operations of these facilities will commence once the storm has passed.
The tropical depression will be named ‘Odette’ once it enters PAR. PAGASA expects
the cyclone to gradually intensify and possibly reach typhoon category by Wednesday
before making landfall in Eastern Visayas or Caraga on Thursday. The state weather
bureau sees the storm cutting across the middle portion of the country bringing heavy
rainfall in the Visayas, large portions of Mindanao and several provinces in Southern
Luzon.
PLDT and Smart urge everyone to take necessary precautions, prepare emergency
packs, charge mobile phones and power banks, and ensure enough load credits. PLDT
and Smart advise the public to heed the alerts and warnings of local governments and
disaster response authorities. The two companies are ready to extend assistance to
response and rescue teams in areas that will be affected by the storm.
All these efforts are part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafePH advocacy, which promotes
preparedness and immediate response through network resilience, continuous
availability of communication services, mobile solutions and activities, and relief
assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks.