Typhoon Tino knocked out mobile and broadband networks across Negros Occidental, but the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) moved to restore connectivity by deploying emergency satellite internet to hard-hit communities.
As of Tuesday, November 18, the agencies have installed and activated 12 Starlink satellite units in evacuation centers and disaster response hubs, allowing residents, responders, and local governments to regain communication while damaged telecom lines remain offline.
DICT–Negros Occidental focal person Mary Jane Agonace said the agency prioritized restoring communication because it helps families reconnect and enables government to coordinate faster.
She added that internet access supports rapid response, real-time reporting, and efficient delivery of services during large-scale disruptions.
Data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s emergency telecommunications cluster show all 12 Starlink units went online between Nov. 6 and 18. One unit now supports operations at the Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island Region headquarters in Bacolod.
In La Castellana, the DICT deployed satellite units to the municipal government, the municipal disaster office, and La Castellana Elementary School, which currently serves as an evacuation center.
The DICT also equipped Moises Padilla with terminals for its MDRRMO, Moises Padilla Elementary School, and Jose Pepito Montilla Sr. National High School.
La Carlota City’s permanent evacuation center, Roberto S. Benedicto Elementary School, and the MDRRMOs of Isabela, Binalbagan, and Don Salvador Benedicto likewise received satellite connectivity.
Officials said the Starlink units will stay in place until repairs to ground-based towers and fiber lines are completed, ensuring Negros Occidental remains connected throughout its recovery.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.