Internet firm removes bill payment sign deemed offensive by Pampanga townsfolk

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Fiber data network and internet service provider Converge ICT Solutions on Thursday (July 23) afternoon took down a sign advising clients from three villages in Minalin town, Pampanga province not to pay their bills at a branch in Sto. Tomas town to protect the company’s workers.

The sign read:” Clients from STO. DOMINGO, STO. ROSARIO AND SAN NICOLAS MINALIN are advised to pay bills through BAYAD CENTER for the safety of our Personnels (sic).”

Converge made the move after receiving backlash from its customers and local officials.

Minalin has 16 cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“It is very humiliating,” Minalin Mayor Edgar Flores told the INQUIRER by phone, referring to the signage.

Netizens vented their anger on social media, with some calling it “discriminatory” against the people of Minalin. The town had no COVID-19 positive cases until late June, which were mostly locally transmitted.

Converge also apologized, saying that the sign was “unofficial.”

“It was merely an improvisation of an employee and does not reflect in any way the sentiment of our organization,” said Converge in a statement sent by its chair Dennis Anthony Uy.

TSB