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The Department of Tourism is taking seriously its Visit the Philippines 2015 campaign so it partnered up with Globe for this unbelievable little thing.
Globe will begin handing out free SIM cards to tourists and OFWs alike on Jul 30. They’re calling the free SIM cards, the Globe Traveler SIM. It is a local prepaid SIM card that offers local rates for calls, SMS messages and mobile data services.
The SIM card is already tri-cut, meaning it can fit into a regular, micro- or nano-SIM requirements of your mobile phone. So if you’re carrying the good ol’ alphanumeric Nokia, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Aparently, in the first five months of the year alone, the Philippines has welcomed 2.23 million international visitors. “Staying connected is a priority for the millions of travelers who visit our country. Offering free SIMs is our way of helping travelers further enjoy their stay,” says Globe SVP for international business Rizza Maniego-Eala.
The SIM card will allow users to receive calls and texts from abroad for free, too. If they need to call abroad, it’s only USD$0.40 or around PHP18 a minute. And if they subscribe to the Globe TravelSurf plan on the Traveler SIM, they get mobile Internet for seven days for only USD$11 or roughly PHP500. If they’re staying in the country longer, they only need to cough out USD$23 or about PHP1,046. for 30 days.
Globe booths in all NAIA terminals as well as the ones in Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo, and Clark International Airports will begin handing out the free SIM cards to tourists and OFWs starting Jul 30 and it will end on Dec 31, 2015.
Interested tourists should only present their non-Philippine passport, while OFWs should present their foreign resident card, Seaman’s book or their OFW E-card to get their free SIM cards.
We know, we know, it sounds too good to be true. But like the new airport lounge, we’re keeping positive on this one.
Perhaps we can do our part by not expecting Globe to save the world and launch a rocketship to pluto. We mean, come on guys. They’re giving away free SIM cards. The least we can do is manage our expectations, right?
Photo: Pixabay via Coconuts Bali
