PLDT makes it easier to secure landline service

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) recently launched a program aimed at making it easier for every barangay throughout the country to get a landline telephone service.

Dubbed Phonetastic Festival, the program is PLDT’s response to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) directive to local exchange carriers (LECs) to provide Filipinos with easy access to more affordable landline phones.

"Instead of consumers going to us to apply for a line, we are now going to them," PLDT national retail marketing sector head Joaquin San Agustin said.

He added that with this program, consumers can get a phone on the same day that they apply by just making a low downpayment. The actual price of a landline phone is P1,999 but during the duration of this program, consumers can get a phone by just paying the P500 downpayment. The balance can be paid in eight monthly installments which will be added to their monthly bill.

NTC Commissioner Eliseo M. Rio earlier noted that the main reason why Filipinos cannot get or maintain a phone in their homes is cost.

He said that based on the Department of Transportation and Communications Universal Access Benchmark report, 63 percent of Filipino families cannot afford telephone service at today’s prices. "Thus, LECs should offer consumers more flexible pricing plans to get a phone for their homes," Rio said.

For his part, San Agustin said that responding to the call of NTC, PLDT went a step further with Phonetastic Festival. He added that during the program promo, consumers can also avail themselves of Teletipid, PLDT’s prepaid landline service. Other landline service features are also available at discounted prices.

After its initial run in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Phonetastic Festival is scheduled to visit the areas of north Marikina, Angono, Cardona, Montalban, San Mateo, Binangonan, Morong and Tanay during the year.

PLDT is the leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines. Through its three principal business groups – fixed line, wireless, and Internet and multimedia – the company offers a wide range of telecommunications services across the Philippines’ most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed line, cellular and satellite networks. – Mary Ann Reyes