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| Vol. XX No. 45 |
January 17, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Major Developments
100
more Smart PCOs to be set up here
Around 50 to 100 satellite-linked Public Calling Offices will be installed by Smart Communications, Inc. in selected barangays in Catanduanes as part of the company’s P21-billion expansion program this year.
This was announced the other Tuesday (January 9) by Smart chief executive officer and president Napoleon Nazareno during the inauguration of its San Miguel PCO in the presence of other Smart officials, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chair Joseph A. Santiago, Governor Hector S. Sanchez, Rep. Leandro B. Verceles, Jr, former Gov. Severo C. Alcantara, municipal mayors and other national and local officials.
In his message, Nazareno said the power of connectivity has been put within reach of ordinary citizens, who can now call anybody anywhere in the world. He added that the wireless technology offered by the satellite-based communications network has virtually erased all borders, as the comm. satellite operated by the consortium has a footprint or coverage of 11 million square miles stretching from Papua New Guinea to China and Japan and as far as Indonesia and India.
He expressed hope that the establishment of the PCOs will improve the quality of life here by stimulating local business. “The satellite PCOs, which offer IDD and NDD phone services, will complement Smart’s network of Tawag Centers or PCOs using GSM and analog cellular networks.
The Smart exec was accompanied here by Rolando Pena, head of its Network Services Division; Cristina Mariano of Public Access Division; Anastacio Martirez of Personal Communications and Mobile Services Division; Rogelio Quevedo of the Legal Department; and, AcesPhil president Iggy Yengco.
Launched in partnership with AceS Philippine Cellular Satellite Corporation (AcsSPhil), the Catanduanes PCO is the first of about 1,500 calling stations that Smart plans to open this year in remote areas all over the country.
The eight PCOs in the province are being operated by franchisees Evangeline Abundo (Pandan and Caramoran), Restituto Calderon, Jr. (Viga), Gaudencio Calderon (Bagamanoc), Arnel Turado (Baras and Gigmoto), Fr. Pepe Faustino (Panganiban), and, Charlie Cadlawon and Engr. Tito Bonifacio (San Miguel). The PCOs will enable citizens to call landline and cellular phones at P25 per minute.
In its initial roll-out, 31 satellite PCOs have been installed in Camarines Norte, Palawan, Negros Occidental, Surigao del Sur and Samar. Scheduled for immediate installation are PCOs in underserved areas such as Palawan, Batanes, Camarines Norte, Bohol, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Davao del Norte, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Oriental, Tawi-tawi, Jolo, Compostela Valley and Masbate.
There are over 300 pending PCO applications in underserved areas, with roll-out over a four-year period to reach 5,000 satellite-based Smart PCOs.
