President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed telecommunications companies to provide free communication services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East and their families in the Philippines as tensions continue to escalate in the region.

In a Facebook post on Monday morning, March 9, Marcos said the initiative intends to ensure that Filipinos abroad can stay connected with their loved ones without incurring additional costs.

“Our public telecommunications entities will also set up free call stations in selected business centers located in major malls to help families stay in touch with their loved ones abroad,” Marcos said.

The effort is part of the Libreng Tawag Program, which offers free communication services between Filipinos in the country and OFWs working in several Middle Eastern nations.

Under the program, major telecommunications providers have activated emergency communication support covering Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Telecommunications firms rolled out several services to help Filipinos maintain contact with relatives during the crisis.

Subscribers of Globe Telecom and TM automatically receive a roaming package that includes 1 GB of mobile data, 15 minutes of calls, and 15 text messages valid for seven days in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The package activates automatically once users connect to partner networks abroad and is available to Globe prepaid, postpaid, and TM subscribers.

Meanwhile, PLDT and Smart Communications have enabled free international direct dialing (IDD) calls and communication services through the TinBo app. Filipinos in the Philippines can place free calls to relatives in the Middle East using PLDT landlines by dialing the international code.

OFWs overseas may also use the TinBo app together with a Smart Virtual Number to make free calls to the Philippines. The service covers Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

DITO Telecommunity has also launched free calls for DITO numbers in the Middle East. Calls are free regardless of whether the caller in the Philippines uses Globe, Smart, or DITO, as long as the recipient abroad is a DITO subscriber.

DITO’s service includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

In addition to telecom services, companies will set up free call stations in selected business centers located in major malls across the country. These facilities will allow Filipinos without mobile phones or prepaid load to contact relatives working in the Middle East. The stations will be accessible to subscribers of Globe, PLDT-Smart, and DITO.

Marcos said the initiative aims to help families check on the safety of relatives abroad and provide reassurance during the ongoing crisis.

“Through these efforts, we want to ensure that our kababayans can remain connected with their families, offer comfort to one another, and confirm their safety,” he said.

-Paraluman News