Finally, the long battle for Marawi has finished and President Duterte has declared the area pacified and free. Now the time for rebuilding has come and Government agencies along with partners in the private sector has started to rebuild.
Part of the latest efforts of the government and other stake holders in rebuilding Marawi was getting the information out to the relatives of the survivors that everything is okay.. and in line with that, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued Office Order 179-10-2017 last 30 October 2017 instructing its Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro City, headed by its director, Engr. Teodoro Buenavista, Jr., to offer “Libreng Text at Tawag” services in evacuation centers for a period of seven (7) calendar days starting 31 October 2017.
Libreng tawag centers were put in the following locations in Iligan City: Kanaway Evacuation Center, Tibanga; Sta. Elena Gymnasium, Sta. Elena; Buru-an School of Fisheries, Buru-an; Buru-an Gymnasium, Buru-an; and Maria Cristina Gym, Maria Cristina. In Cagayan de Oro City, the “Libreng Text at Tawag” services is offered in the Indahag Evacuation Center.
The main goal of this program is that the survivors of the attack, could inform their relatives that they are okay.. or update them on the status of the situation in Marawi City.
The “Libreng Text at Tawag” service includes free NDD and overseas calls and will be expanded to include other evacuation centers in the coming the days. The NTC’s effort was implemented in cooperation with Globe, Smart and various amateur and civic radio groups, namely, Race9, ACTS Radio Club and KABALIKAT.
