PLDT group expands free call support for OFWs amid Middle East crisis

The PLDT Group has expanded its communication assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, extending free call services and setting up additional call stations in select PLDT and Smart stores located in major malls across the Philippines.

The move follows the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to ensure that Filipinos affected by the escalating tensions in the Middle East remain connected with their families and support networks back home.

PLDT Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan earlier instructed the organization to activate emergency communication support for Filipinos in countries affected by the crisis. The initiative aims to provide accessible communication channels during a period when reliable connectivity can be critical for overseas workers and their families.

As part of the program, free calls to the Philippines through TinBo (Tindahan ni Bossing), powered by PLDT Global, remain available for users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates until March 15. The TinBo platform can be accessed through Google Play, the Apple App Store, and via the web at tinbo.ph.

In the Philippines, PLDT Home and Enterprise customers may continue making free international direct dial (IDD) calls to the Gulf States, Israel, and Iran until March 15. Smart and TNT subscribers may also access the free IDD call service until March 14.

Smart subscribers currently in several Middle Eastern and North African countries — including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE, and Yemen — may also contact the Smart Crisis Hotline at +632 8845 7799 toll-free to coordinate with family members in the Philippines.

The PLDT Group said the initiative is part of its broader effort to provide meaningful connectivity during times of crisis, while supporting the national government’s efforts to assist Filipinos abroad and maintain communication access for overseas communities.

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MVP asks PLDT, Smart to offer free calls for OFWs in Middle East conflict zones