Amid the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Hualien City, Taiwan on April 3, the country's biggest mobile network providers Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. are offering free roaming data services to affected Filipinos. 

For Globe postpaid and prepaid customers and TM users, they can get free 15 minutes of incoming and outgoing calls, 15 texts to all networks, and 1GB data for seven days.

These can be availed automatically by connecting to Globe's roaming partners like Taiwan Mobile and Chunghwa Telecom. Once connected, a confirmation message will be sent to the user.

In order to make calls, dial “+” plus country code, area code and telephone number (ex. +63773101212) or dial “+” plus country code and mobile number (ex. +639171234567).

For texts, type “+” plus country code and mobile number (ex. +639171234567).

To access the free 1GB data, users must turn on mobile data and data roaming and set the network connection to 3G or LTE.

“Tens and thousands of Filipinos work and live in Taiwan, with thousands more going on a visit annually. We hope that through this immediate connectivity support, we can help our customers there contact their loved ones and cope in the aftermath of this temblor,” said Paula Rivera-Castillo, Head of Globe International Business. 

As for Smart and TNT customers in Taiwan, they will receive free roaming data load assistance for three days, which can be accessed by connecting to Smart's network partners in Taiwan.

"We understand the importance of access to information and communication especially during a disaster. We are praying for the safety of our fellow Filipinos in Taiwan as we continue to monitor this crisis,” said Shing Dimagiba, Smart Vice President for Postpaid and International Roaming Business.

Nearly 160,000 Filipinos live in Taiwan, 150,666 of whom are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as per the Taiwan Ministry of Labor cited by the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW).