Help has finally reached President Carlos P. Garcia island, also known as Pitogo, in Bohol days after the island municipality has been isolated following the onslaught of super typhoon Odette.
On Wednesday, PLDT and wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) together with the PLDT-Smart Foundation have finally landed on the island bringing with them much needed food packs. The team, assisted by the local government unit and local officials, distributed more than 360 packs of relief goods to affected families in one of the worst hit areas in the province.
“We are grateful that you have extended aid to our residents despite the challenges of reaching our island municipality. The storm has decimated our fishing industry. Your donation will go a long way in providing for families who have lost their livelihood,” said Mayor Fernando Estavilla.
Bohol has been placed under a state of calamity last week due to the massive devastation left by the super typhoon.
PLDT and Smart network teams have been working around the clock to reconnect vital communication links in the Visayas as well as in Palawan and Mindanao.
In the Visayas, wireless services have been restored in 91% of areas while fixed services are up 67%. Technical teams are also making progress in Palawan restoring wireless services in 83% of the province while fixed services are back in more than 90% of covered sites. PLDT and Smart engineers are on last mile restoration activities in Mindanao where wireless services are up in more than 98% of the region while fixed services near full restoration at 99%. Remaining sites for major repairs are Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao.
PLDT and Smart remind customers in previously restored areas that services may be affected by the availability of commercial power and fiber cuts. The group has committed to reconnect affected customers once access roads are cleared, and commercial power supply stabilizes.