Marcos Jr. announces free calls to Middle East

MANILA, Philippines, March 10 ------ Telecommunication firms will offer free communication services to allow Filipinos to talk to their family members in the Middle East, President Marcos announced. “Further assistance (has) been initiated for our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East,” he said in a Facebook post. “I have directed our telecommunications companies to provide free communication services between our OFWs and their families here in the Philippines,” Marcos added.

The President said telcos have activated the Libreng Tawag Program, which will provide “critical support” for Filipinos across the Middle East, including those in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Public telecommunications entities would also set up free call stations in selected business centers located in major malls to help families stay in touch with their loved ones abroad. “Through these efforts, we want to ensure that our kababayans can remain connected with their families, offer comfort to one another and confirm their safety without additional financial burden,” the Chief Executive said.

According to latest reports, some 1,300 people, including Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, have been killed since the US and Israel launched air strikes in Iran last Feb. 28. Iran retaliated by targeting American and Israeli bases across the Middle East, where about 2.5 million Filipinos live and work.

Source: philstar.com