DOCOMO donates over $8M for Yutu relief

TAMUNING, Guam—In the true spirit of “Better Together,” DOCOMO PACIFIC and its loyal customers and community and business partners are making a meaningful contribution to families affected by Super Typhoon Yutu.

Through a collective effort, DOCOMO PACIFIC has helped contribute more than $8 million worth of services, donations, and public outreach to the rebuilding and recovery process of the Marianas following the super typhoon.

Marianas Young Professionals co-founder/emeritus Nola Hix thanked the telecommunications company for its generous donations in the wake of Yutu.

“The road to recovery will take months and even years, but I have witnessed firsthand the outpouring of support for those impacted by Super Typhoon Yutu. We are forever grateful for the generosity of so many in our community including DOCOMO PACIFIC who without hesitation immediately offered direct assistance toward our disaster relief efforts and also offered free services and contributions to hundreds of families in the Marianas,” she said.

Hix said this act of kindness helped alleviate some of the stress all experienced so everyone can focus on recovery and get back on their feet.

“For several years, DOCOMO PACIFIC has been instrumental in giving back to our community and we appreciate their continued dedication in times like these delivering on their ‘Better Together’ promise,” she said.

DOCOMO PACIFIC president and CEO Roderick Boss said the company will continue to help the CNMI as it recovers from Yutu.

“Just as we believe that communication transforms lives, more importantly, we know the tremendous responsibility we have to our community to utilize our resources, technology, and services in times of need. We continue to stand with the CNMI and offer our full support as we rebuild and recover. Meanwhile, the power of technology, especially the use of mobile devices, has helped highlight a new generation of philanthropists who want to make a difference. We are extremely touched by the generosity of our customers and community and business partners and thank them for their contributions. The CNMI holds a special place in our hearts, so we’re appreciative of all the collective efforts by our island communities,” he said.

Free services
Immediately following the typhoon, DOCOMO PACIFIC pledged its full support to the recovery process by offering free mobile, internet, TV, and phone services including free data top-ups from Oct. 24 to Dec. 31 last year.
The company said it wanted its customers to focus on their families and not on their bill at this time. DOCOMO PACIFIC said customers who are still waiting for services to be restored will not be charged until restoration is completed.

Partners in recovery
Showcasing the spirit of One Marianas, DOCOMO PACIFIC allowed GTA subscribers to roam for free for one month on its network on Saipan, including those service members helping with recovery efforts. Utilizing the widest 4G LTE network in the Marianas, many GTA subscribers used DOCOMO PACIFIC’s free mobile services on Saipan following the storm.

DOCOMO PACIFIC appreciates GTA customers for trusting the strength and stability of its network to stay connected while in Saipan.

Text to donate
Mobile technology has underscored the effectiveness of public outreach and changed how companies like DOCOMO PACIFIC can offer immediate support.

Thanks to their generous contributions, DOCOMO PACIFIC customers have raised $4,300 to be donated to the American Red Cross Relief Efforts on Saipan and Tinian. The funds were generated strictly through a text-to-donate fundraising initiative that allowed DOCOMO PACIFIC customers to use their mobile devices to provide immediate support.

In addition to this campaign, DOCOMO PACIFIC associates came together for the “Marianas Strong Wave and Contribution Drive” last Nov. 5 in front of DOCOMO PACIFIC’s Tamuning HQ. Over a two-hour span, the team waved and collected donations from drivers stuck in traffic wanting to offer their support. The proceeds will go directly to the Marianas Young Professionals (MYPros), a non-profit organization on Saipan, who are spearheading several typhoon-relief efforts.

Public outreach
Working together with Son of the Marianas Frank Camacho, DOCOMO PACIFIC helped produce and support the “MYPros Frank the Crank Typhoon Yutu Recovery” online series that documented the devastation of the storm in Saipan, but more importantly highlighted the strength of its people in the aftermath. The series helped reach a large audience and offered viewers a glimpse of the recovery process.

DOCOMO PACIFIC remains committed to restoring all of our services, and keeping families connected to the things that matter most.

For more information, feel free to reach out to DOCOMO PACIFIC public relations coordinator Ken Quintanilla at kvquintanilla@docomopacific.com. (PR)