PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) network on Sunday said that their network remained resilient in Northern Luzon after the onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng.

“Our teams have prepositioned mission-critical equipment and manpower even before ‘Paeng’ intensified into a severe tropical storm which helped our network stay resilient,” Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart said.

“We await more details on the restoration of commercial power in areas such as Batangas and Laguna, as our connectivity service is dependent on power. We are widening our relief distribution in the coming days to reach more people in need,” she added.

The statement said that network assessment is still ongoing in areas experiencing service disruptions in part caused by commercial power outages due to 'Paeng'.

PLDT and Smart said they continue to work with their partner vendors on fully restoring network services in these areas.

They said that PLDT and Smart’s site facilities continue to stay on full alert until tropical storm ‘Paeng’ leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PLDT and Smart has begun free calls, charging, load assistance since October 29, and is due to widen the coverage of relief work in the coming days.

The Group is also in close coordination with its partners on the immediate deployment of relief assistance to severely impacted communities.

They also extended their Libreng Tawag (free calls) and Libreng Charging (free charging) stations in Camarines Sur.

The Group also sent emergency load to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) of Batangas, Capiz, and Southern Leyte to support their coordination with local authorities in their respective communities. PLDT and Smart have also turned over Ligtas Kits to Albay and Batangas, which their own PDRRMOs are currently using in their risk assessment, rescue, and response activities. Catherine Cueto