MANGALDAN – The “Libreng Overseas Tawag Center,” a project of the Rotary Club of Metro Cubao has been launched in Pangasinan. First recipients are San Carlos City and Mangaldan.
This is under the club’s Committee on Community Service project dubbed as “Project Compassion” chaired by Rotarian Arturo C. Lomibao, former PNP chief.
“We are reaching out through the Rotary motto of service. On the other hand, there are friends of the Rotary helping us out with this project” Lomibao remarked.
The project was first launched last August 11 in San Carlos City by Lomibao, together with San Carlos City Mayor Julian V. Resuello and Vice Mayor Julier Resuello.
The free overseas call center is situated at the Hax Multimedia internet shop located at the New City Public Market along Roxas boulevard.
The launching in Mangaldan was conducted the following morning at the Mangaldan municipal hall. Present were Mayor Herminio Romero, Vice Mayor Berex Abalos and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan and former Mayor Numeriano Presto.
Free calls can be made to 32 countries which includes Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, North Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, USA, Vatican City and Wales.
All that is to be done is dial the country’s area code and the telephone number of the contact person.
“The call center functions through VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. There should be an internet connection in the area where the call center will be set up,” Lomibao explained.
“We are giving this as a form of reaching out to our less fortunate countrymen who wants to call their relatives abroad, specially those working in the Middle East. We are helping both ends, the family here and their relatives abroad,” he said.
He said they will provide the gadget, the telephone set including the monthly service fee of P1,500. As counterpart, the local government will provide the space and the personnel who will man the center.
The LGU will set the time the center will be opened to the public.
“Charity begins at home,” said Lomibao when asked by the local media why he chose the two localities as the first recipients. (The formal launching at the Rotary center in Cubao will be held on Monday)
Mayor Resuello is also a member of the Rotary Club of Metro Cubao. Lomibao hails from Mangaldan.
“Through Project Compassion, we are extending service to our townmates, especially those who can’t afford to pay overseas calls. All the callers have to do is fill-up the registration form and become a member of the Libreng Tawag Overseas Center,”
On the need for registering at the center, Lomibao explained this is necessary for them to be able to keep tabs of how many people have availed of the project for any program revision later.
“Being the chairman of the committee, I have to report to the District Governor how many people we have serviced. We are contemplating to operate this for six months. After which, we will assess how effective or how relevant the project is at the locality,” he said.
Project Compassion-Libreng Overseas Tawag Center will also be launched in other areas in Pangasinan and in major cities nationwide like Davao, Cebu, Zamboanga.