To help ease the suffering of those affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is providing free internet connectivity and charging devices to several typhoon-hit areas.

In a statement on Thursday, the DICT said free internet and charging services are available to Albayanos at the Post Telecom Building in Legazpi City.

In Pandan, Catanduanes, it said several “Free Wi-Fi For All” sites remain operational even as the networks of Globe Telecom (Globe) and Smart Communications (Smart) remain down due to the damages caused by “Rolly”.

“The Department is also undertaking other initiatives to aid connectivity services in typhoon-hit areas from other regions,” the DICT said.

This includes the installation of emergency backup internet connection at the Office of Civil Defense Mimaropa Regional Office in Batangas City by the DICT’s Luzon Cluster III.

DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II said the DICT is accelerating its efforts and working with other government agencies to rebuild communications infrastructure in the typhoon-hit areas.

“Communication and access to information is crucial especially in areas badly hit by Typhoon Rolly. Your DICT is fast-tracking its efforts to help our fellow Filipinos get their much-needed aid,” Honasan said.

Earlier, Globe announced that it has successfully restored its voice, text, and internet services in Bato, San Andres, and Virac in the province of Catanduanes — one of the provinces ravaged by “Rolly” last Sunday.

Smart, meanwhile, said it has restored its mobile services in Catanduanes on Wednesday morning, aside from restoring its services in other typhoon-hit areas such as Albay, Batangas, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Pampanga, Northern Samar, Tarlac, and Zambales. (PNA)