Affirming their dominance in providing both landline and wireless services, Philippine Long Distance Co. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. opens today their first joint facility in the Visayas, the PLDT-Smart Business Center at SM City Bacolod.

The one-stop retail outlet, situated at the ground floor of the mall’s South Wing, will provide sales and after sales services for customers of both companies.

At a press conference yesterday, Cesar Enriquez, first vice president for customer services of PLDT, said PLDT covers 72 percent of the landline users in Bacolod City, while nationwide, their subscriber base is 65 percent to 75 percent.

Bacolod is among the fast-moving cities outside Metro Manila and Cebu, he said.

Ramon Isberto, public affairs head of Smart, said Smart and Talk ‘n Text also have a substantial number of subscribers in Negros Island, higher than their competitors.    

Isberto said the opening of the joint business center is part of their efforts to make the services of both PLDT and Smart accessible to their customers.

 Renato Santillan, PLDT Bacolod business zone head, said  their customers in Negros can pay their telephone bills or inquire about PLDT products and services at the business center without  leaving the comforts of the mall.

Joy Sanchez, Smart Bacolod customer care head, said their goal is to make life more convenient for their subscribers who can settle their bill, whether in cash or in check, through an automated machine called Payment Connect, and charge their mobile phones at the Charging Station.

Other company officials who came to the press conference at the Sugarland Hotel yesterday were Jesus Tañedo, PLDT vice president  for operations, VisMin; Alex Ang, PLDT regional head, Retail Sales; Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT community relations head; and Maria Jane Paredes, Smart public affairs manager, VisMin.*NLG

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