Make your phones typhoon-ready, Smart urges subscribers

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. is reminding subscribers to take extra precautions this typhoon season, and to make their phones typhoon-ready.

A mobile phone, according to Smart, is one of the most basic yet important tools that should be in every household’s typhoon preparedness kit.

“When we say typhoon preparedness or disaster preparedness in general, people tend to think only of the role of the national and local government and relevant agencies,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart’s Public Affairs.

“But what we must realize is that preparedness should start in every home. It is the responsibility of every family to plan and get ready for calamities,” he said.

“Making our mobile phones typhoon-ready is one of the easiest and most simple steps we could do for typhoon preparedness,” he added.

Smart recommends fully charging mobile phones upon announcement of any upcoming weather disturbance. It also pays to have extra batteries ready and charged, in case of power outages that could last for days.

The telco also points out the importance of saving emergency numbers in the cellphone’s address book and keeping a hard copy of these numbers on hand. The list should include numbers of family members who can help in times of emergency, response agencies like the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, television and radio stations, the local government down to the barangay level, local police, hospitals, the electric company, relief agencies like the Philippine Red Cross, etc.

Although there are mobile phone units that can now be used as radios and flashlights, Smart says it is better to have the mobile phone reserved for communication purposes, and to have actual battery-operated radios and flashlights ready.

Other practical tips include investing in water-proof mobile phone cases or improvising with resealable plastic bags, keeping the battery charger and back-up prepaid load cards handy, and optimizing battery life by adjusting phone settings like volume, backlight brightness and data connectivity.

For its part, Isberto says Smart is taking all the necessary steps to ensure the continuous provision of wireless communication services during typhoons and other disasters.

Smart keeps a tight watch on its network, using technology that allows it to monitor any downtime or outage in its network operations center manned 24/7 every day, and to respond according to a disaster response plan that has been enhanced by lessons learned during typhoon or disaster experiences.

When storm signals are raised, Smart goes into heightened alert, particularly in the areas that have been declared in the typhoon’s path. Standard procedures dictate that areas declared critical must already have an average of five days’ fuel supply for backup power, network personnel should be at the site to do troubleshooting the minute it is declared safe to do so, alternative communication like Smart Link satellite phones are on hand in case there is no signal, and the nearest contractors are on standby for any needed assistance.

“It is our obligation to our subscribers to keep our network up and running and to maintain our subscribers’ connections especially in circumstances when they might need communication the most,” said Isberto.

“Like in the previous years, our engineers have been briefed and prepared to be always on the alert and to respond to any connectivity problem that should arise,” he added.

In places severely affected by typhoons, floods and power outages, Smart has also been known to set up free call and charging stations.

Smart has also launched services that its subscribers can use for emergency like the emergency text loan service for its prepaid subscribers. Called Dial *SOS, this service allows Smart users with zero balance to pull P4 worth of emergency credits (three text messages to Smart plus P1 airtime) by dialing *767 or the keypad numbers corresponding to *SOS. The amount will be charged on the subscriber’s next reload.

Smart also partnered with PAGASA, the country’s official weather bureau, to bring weather updates through SMS. To get started, subscribers only need to register for free by texting ULAN <space> REG <space> NAME/ADDRESS/AGE to 717-ULAN (or 7178526).

Subscribers with mobile Internet functionality may also avail themselves of Smart’s various data packages to access official Facebook and Twitter accounts of various organizations and agencies to receive official bulletins or to report their conditions.

Official Twitter accounts that can be followed are @govph (national government), @dost_pagasa (weather bureau) @MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority), @philredcross (Philippine Red Cross) and @TV5manila (TV network).