Philippine telco services have given Filipinos in Afghanistan free prepaid load and roaming services for them to reach their families amid the conflict in the country.
Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) said in a statement that all Afghanistan-based Filipinos will receive prepaid load on their Smart roaming SIMs and free “Roam Lite 250” subscription with 200 megabytes (MB) for web surfing and social media. This will be valid for three days.
“Smart roamers in Afghanistan can also get instant and free access to Smart’s data roaming manager by going to http://roam.smart.com.ph using their Smart roaming SIM,” Smart said.
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Meantime, Globe telecoms will extending bill credits of postpaid subscribers and will send free load to prepaid users.
“Customers can use it to make or receive calls, and send text messages to all networks while in Afghanistan,” Globe said.
“To make a call. Dial “+”+ country code + area code + telephone number (ex. +63773101212) or dial “+” + country code + mobile number (ex. +639171234567). To send a text, type “+”+ country code + mobile number (ex. +639171234567),” Globe said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that 35 Filipinos from Afghanistan have returned to Manila on Tuesday at the NAIA Terminal 1.
They were part of the DFA chartered repatriation flight from Doha, Qatar. The flight carried 238 distressed OFWs including the Filipinos from Afghanistan.
In an earlier statement, the DFA said that the Filipinos were repatriated through the efforts of private companies to evacuate them from Afghanistan to Doha.
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In addition to the flight home, the repatriates also received USD 200 financial assistance.
“Upon arrival, the repatriates underwent the appropriate medical protocols as required by the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine. They would also be required to undergo quarantine in accordance with the omnibus guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Task Force,” the DFA said in a statement.
“In line with the commitment of the DFA to protect the welfare and well-being of Filipinos overseas, we welcome home this morning 238 distressed OFWs, who have sought repatriation assistance from the Department. The DFA acted decisively and brought them home” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola added. (TDT)
