PLDT Global Corp. and Smart Communications Inc. are providing free mobile data and calls to help Filipinos in Saudi Arabia stay connected with their families and Philippine government agencies amid the ongoing situation in the Middle Eastern country.
Smart will provide eligible subscribers currently in Saudi Arabia with a free 1-gigabyte roaming data package valid for five days. The allocation is intended to help users access important information, contact family members and reach support services.
Subscribers can monitor their roaming data allocation through Smart’s GigaRoam portal.
PLDT Global is also extending free calls through Tindahan ni Bossing (TinBo), its digital platform for overseas Filipinos. Users with a TinBo Smart Virtual Number can call the Department of Migrant Workers-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DMW-OWWA) Helpline at 1348 and the Actionline Against Human Trafficking at 1343 at no cost.
The hotlines provide channels for overseas Filipinos seeking assistance, information or guidance from government agencies responsible for migrant worker welfare and protection.
Filipinos who need help accessing the free calling service can contact TinBo through Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
PLDT Global is also opening free calls through the Smart Virtual Number to PLDT landlines, Smart and TNT subscribers, and other Philippine mobile numbers. The service is intended to help Filipinos in Saudi Arabia maintain contact with relatives and other support networks in the Philippines.
“Our priority is to help Filipinos overseas stay connected when they need it most. We are making it easier for our kababayans in Saudi Arabia to reach their loved ones and access critical support services as they navigate this situation,” said Albert V. Villa-Real, PLDT Global president and chief executive officer and head of PLDT and Smart International Business.
The initiatives form part of the PLDT Group’s efforts to use telecommunications services to support Filipinos overseas during emergencies and other unforeseen situations.
PLDT Global and Smart said they would continue monitoring developments and remain prepared to provide additional assistance as needed.
