Telecommunications providers Globe Telecom and the PLDT Group are extending their free communication services to help Filipinos in the Middle East stay in contact with their families as tensions continue to escalate in parts of the region.
Globe said it provided complimentary roaming packages for Globe and TM subscribers detected in affected countries, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The package includes 15 minutes of roaming calls, 15 SMS messages and 1GB of mobile data, valid for seven days from the time it is credited to the user’s account.
For Filipinos in Iran and Iraq, Globe said prepaid users received load credits while postpaid subscribers were given bill adjustments to help maintain communication access during the crisis.
The company has also opened selected Globe stores in the Philippines as hotline hubs, allowing families without access to international calling services to place calls to relatives working in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the PLDT Group expanded its own support by extending free calls to the Philippines for overseas Filipinos through TinBo (Tindahan ni Bossing), an app powered by PLDT Global. The service is available for users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until March 15.
PLDT Home and Enterprise customers in the Philippines may also place free international direct dial calls to Gulf states, Israel and Iran until March 15. Smart and TNT subscribers may access the same service until March 14.
Smart subscribers in several countries across the Middle East and North Africa may contact the Smart Crisis Hotline (+632 8845 7799) toll-free for urgent coordination with family members in the Philippines.
