PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications are offering free calls to help Filipinos communicate with their families amid tensions in parts of the Middle East, according to posts shared by PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan on social media.
In a post published March 2 on the social platform X under the account @iamMVP, Pangilinan said he had asked PLDT and Smart to make it easier for Filipinos working in countries affected by the regional conflict to contact their loved ones in the Philippines.
“Worrying about our OFWs. I’ve asked PLDT and Smart to offer free calls for Filipinos in countries affected by the conflict in the Middle East,” Pangilinan wrote. He added that the goal was to make it “as easy as possible for our countrymen to reach their loved ones, and vice versa.”
In a follow-up post on the same account, Pangilinan said PLDT is providing free calls to the Philippines for Filipinos currently in Iran, Israel, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The service is available through Smart’s TinBo application using the Smart Virtual Number feature.
The initiative also extends to subscribers in the Philippines. Pangilinan said PLDT, Smart, and TNT customers in the country will be able to place free calls to relatives and contacts in the same Middle Eastern countries covered by the program.
According to the posts, the free call service will be available until March 7. Pangilinan said the companies will monitor the situation and determine whether an extension of the program will be necessary depending on developments in the region.
The announcement comes as concerns grow about the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in parts of the Middle East where security tensions have been reported. Communication access is often prioritized during periods of regional instability to allow workers abroad to update their families and receive support from relatives in the Philippines.
PLDT and Smart have previously introduced similar connectivity measures during emergencies or crises affecting Filipino communities overseas. These efforts are typically designed to provide temporary relief to affected customers by enabling them to maintain contact during periods of uncertainty.
Further details on the implementation of the free calling service are expected to be released by the companies as the program rolls out.