Batanes gets connected to the online world, thanks to Piltel

BASCO, Batanes — The Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel) recently reaffirmed its status as an industry leader in this northernmost province, following the inauguration of its "Internet project" here.

Piltel’s new project came on the heels of Smart Communications’ launch here last December of its satellite service, dubbed "Smart Linking Batanes to the World."

"This project, which effectively links our islands to the rest of the world, is a critical component of our continuing efforts to prepare Batanes for greater competitiveness demanded by the information era," Rep. Florencio Abad said.

The Internet project is being handled by the Ivatan Foundation for Development Communications Inc. It is located at the Piltel public calling office along Abad street in this capital town.

At present, the project has 10 computer units to accommodate Piltel’s numerous clients. Subscribers are charged P50 per hour.

Sixteen government offices are also among the early subscribers of the Internet project. They are billed P5,000 a month.

"Part of the service provided by the project is a free e-mail account for selected entities," Abad said.

Among the free e-mail addresses created by the foundation are those for the province’s six municipal mayors, the six municipal councils and the six municipal presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay. This is in addition to those created for the provincial offices.

Piltel first came to the electronic world of the Ivatans when it launched in 1998 its first public calling office here. Since then, it has opened satellite calling stations in the municipalities of Ivana, Uyugan and Sabtang.