Globe offers free calls to 'Sendong' victims

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom immediately responded to the need for communication services for the victims of tropical storm “Sendong” by offering free calls in heavily hit areas in Mindanao as well as opening its GCASH donate facility to accept cash donations for its relief operations via text message.

Globe has set up “Libreng Tawag” centers in various evacuation areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete, enabling evacuees to avail themselves of free calls – five-minute local calls to all networks and two-minute international calls.

The Libreng Tawag stations have been in operation since Sunday in the following areas – covered court of Barangay Macasandig, City Central School on Velez Street, West City Central School in Barangay Carmen, all in Cagayan de Oro City; Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology along Tibanga Highway, Iligan City National High School, and San Lorenzo Church in Hinaplanon in Iligan City; and Batinguil Elementary School, Canduay Elementary School Dumaguete, Sibulan municipal market, all in Dumaguete City.

Globe has also opened its GCASH donate facility for its relief operations for victims of Sendong.

To help in the relief efforts, Globe subscribers can make a donation by texting DONATE (space) AMOUNT (space) MPIN (space) SLB and sending it to 2882 for free.

Globe is conducting its relief efforts in partnership with Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB). As of Monday, Globe had received P65,000 in donations via the GCASH-SLB donation channel.

Through its “E-Ugnay” program, an online map application powered by Globe, SLB is able to receive real-time information on needed relief support (number of goods and urgency) in calamity-hit areas.

Partnering with SLB enables Globe to purchase, repack and distribute relief goods as quickly as possible.

As of Monday, Globe had given relief assistance to Barangays Macanhan and Balulang in Cagayan de Oro City in partnership with Xavier University, one of SLB’s partner institutions for the E-Ugnay program.