Ensure continuity of services amid 'Kristine' aftermath, telcos told

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a memorandum on October 21 anticipating the impending entry of Typhoon “Kristine” (international name: Trami) in the Philippine Area of Responsibility by directing the country’s public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to undertake measures in ensuring continuity of telecommunications services to the Filipino public.

In the memorandum, the NTC instructed PTEs to provide sufficient personnel, standby generators with extra fuel, necessary tools and spare equipment in the areas to be affected by Typhoon Kristine. PTEs were also mandated to ensure quick repair and restoration of services in the event of disruptions brought about by the Typhoon.

In addition, the PTEs were tasked to immediately activate the Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging Stations in areas that will be affected.

As of noon of October 23, PTEs have reported suffering significant service outages in provinces within the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas. There were also reports of minor outages in the CALABARZON and Northern Luzon Regions.

The primary reason for these telecommunication services disruptions were commercial power interruptions, which were either preemptively initiated by power companies/electric cooperatives or naturally caused by the Typhoon.

Globe Telecom reported 75% to 92% outages of its services in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Camarines Norte. Smart Communications reported the difficult challenge brought by severe flooding in the Bicol Region that hampered its restoration efforts.

Smart Communications also reported to the NTC that twenty-one (21) families in Daet, Camarines Norte have been given shelter in the middle of this calamity in a PLDT Cable Landing station. 

Dito Telecommunity also suffered critical outages in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Converge also experienced service disruptions in the Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, the Cordillera Region, Eastern Visayas and the Ilocos Region.Generator sets were deployed to provide temporary power to the network. However, some restoration efforts have been delayed due to impassable flooded roads.

As of 4 p.m. of October 23, Globe reported 12% and 17% restoration in Leyte and Southern Leyte so far. Converge also reported 32% restoration of total affected areasas of 6:00PM of 23 October.

PTEs have reportedly already placed the necessary personnel on standby in areas severely affected, awaiting safe deployment to conduct fast repairs and rectification.

For areas where it is safe to conduct repairs, the NTC said service restoration efforts are already ongoing to minimize service downtime.

SpaceX Starlink also extended to the NTC its offer of aid in the form of Starlink internet services for Filipino first responders to utilize during rescue and relief operations.

Further, the PLDT Smart Group reported that it is gearing up to deploy relief goods with PLDT and Smart volunteers and Alagang Kapatid Foundation.

The NTC said that it is closely monitoring the situation and, with the utmost cooperation of the PTEs, it is working to restore telecommunication services as swiftly as possible.