Poor phone signals during Pope's 5-day stay in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Telco giants Globe and Smart have advised their subscribers that they will experience bag signals during the five-day stay of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

Smart and Globe said in their advisories that the government ordered them to cut mobile phone services on Thursday night during the arrival of the pope and for the safety of those who went out to see the pontiff in his first motorcade.

Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines from Sri Lanka at past 5:30 p.m. The motorcade followed immediately and he reached the Apostolic Nunciature in Taft Avenue, Manila shortly before 7 p.m.

Mobile phone users who waited for the pope along the motorcade route from Villamor Airbase in Pasay City to the Apostolic Nunciature could not immediately share their photos of the pope because of the data service interruption.

"You may have experienced temporary loss of mobile signal and internet during Pope Francis' arrival, especially in the areas surrounding his motorcade route. This was done in compliance with the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission. We hope for your understanding. Thank you," Globe said in its advisory.

Smart said: "Please bear with us if similar situations occur in the next few days during the papal visit. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

The telco giants, however, did not mention if the service interruption will be implemented nationwide or only in areas that will be visited by the pope, including Leyte province.

The pope will stay for several hours in Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte on Saturday to visit the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. He will return to Metro Manila the same day.

The pontiff will hold a Papal Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park (formerly Luneta) in Manila on Sunday.