Meralco expands San Pablo II substation
Meralco personnel during the commissioning of the new 83 MVA transformer bank no. 2 located at its San Pablo II 115 kV-34.5kV Substation in Cosico Avenue, San Pablo City, Laguna, resolving the critical loading of the existing 83 MVA transformer bank. The project also ensures the continuous power supply of the customers served by the said substation even during contingencies. It prevents possible power outages to many of its customers in the areas of San Pablo and Alaminos in Laguna, as well as in Dolores, Tiaong, Candelaria, and San Antonio in the Quezon Province. Despite the continued implementation of community quarantine measures throughout the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meralco and its subsidiaries are continuously working hard to improve its distribution system in order to provide safe, adequate, and reliable electric service to its customers.
PayMaya users get free COVID-19 insurance
Through a tie-up with Pioneer Insurance, PayMaya is giving users free COVID-19 plus personal accident”¯insurance”¯coverage for one-month worth P150,000 when they”¯use their”¯PayMaya”¯account for safe cashless transactions”¯from May 5 until June 30.
During the”¯promo period, PayMaya”¯users with an upgraded account”¯who”¯spend at least P500 in single or accumulated transactions”¯at “¯PayMaya’s”¯in-app shop, Pay Bills feature, pay via”¯PayMaya”¯QR or”¯using”¯ their”¯ PayMaya”¯ mobile number, will get this free insurance coverage from Pioneer Insurance.
Qualified users”¯will receive a text notification to claim their free insurance voucher in the PayMaya app. After claiming their voucher, Pioneer Insurance will provide them with a link to their Insurance Policy via SMS. Qualified PayMaya customers aged 18 to 60 years old can avail of this promo when they redeem and claim the voucher.
Converge elects board
Converge ICT Solutions Inc.has elected the members of its board of directors at its first annual stockholders’ meeting as a listed company last May 28. The board is led by former public works and transportation secretary Jose de Jesus, chairman and independent director.
Also elected as independent directors were former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr. and Roman Felipe Reyes. Non-executive directors are Francis Ed. Lim and Saurabh Agarwal.
Completing the board are the founders and executive directors of the company, Dennis Anthony Uy who is also the CEO and Maria Grace Y. Uy, president and chief resources officer.
PCTA members roll out services
Members of the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association in the regions continue to roll out services during the pandemic.
Cotabato Cable Television Network Corp. has empowered its community of 3,200 households by providing convenient subscription plans and bundling cable TV with Internet of up to 12mbps in speed for subscribers who shifted to Fiber To The Home (FTTH) system.
At the peak of the pandemic, they ensured that they lay out good signal and cable programs that would entertain the elders, help work from home employees and students who attend online classes. Cotabato Cable also gave the Department of Education free cablecasting of their modules Mondays through Fridays.
Bongao Cable TV Network Inc has been providing internet service in the Salug Valley Province since 2016. At the start of the pandemic, Bongao Cable extended their services and upgraded their system, availing a higher bandwidth to cater to the needs of their subscribers particularly schools and learning communities.
Bongao Cable TV Network offers the highest internet plan speed of up to 20mbps using the FTTH technology
British Chamber discusses vaccination rollout
The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines recently held a webinar entitled The COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: What Does It Mean for Philippine Employers in partnership with the Quisumbing Torres firm.
During the discussion, lawyers Kenneth Chua, Divina Ilas-Panganiban and Luisa Fernandez-Guina answered crucial concerns regarding employers’ responsibilities to inoculate their respective workforce, including privacy and general liability considerations.
At the same time, as part of the British Chamber’s advocacy campaigns Chris Nelson, executive director and Trustee stressed the importance of continuing to expand the testing facilities, improving the systematic procurement of vaccines and inoculating the population of the Philippines as quickly as possible.
The British Chamber is also a strong supporter of the Project Dose of Hope initiative of the private sector led by Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion and the key role of the Philippine Red Cross in pandemic response chaired by Senator Richard Gordon.
RCBC mobile check scanner
Businesses can soon process their check deposit transactions using their mobile devices with a new service from the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC).
Mobile CheckScan is an additional feature of the previously launched RCBC CheckScan. Introduced by RCBC in October 2020, RCBC CheckScan is a first-in-market cash management solution that enables corporate clients to process bulk checks safely and efficiently through digitalization.
RCBC CheckScan consists of a state-of-the-art digital check scanner linked to a computer workstation on client premises and the accompanying software. Once activated, the application scans checks and generates images compliant with Philippine Clearing House Corp. (PCHC) Image Quality Assurance (IQA) rules, which are then transmitted to RCBC for clearing and settlement. RCBC CheckScan can handily process 50 checks a minute and provides easy reconciliation of check receivables via daily reports.
Mobile CheckScan, its mobile version, will be available for both Apple iOS and Android. After installation on their smartphones, clients only need to take a photo of the check, and using the app, transmit the image to RCBC for further processing before clearing.
Globe K’mmunity breathable masks donation
Globe K’mmunity, together with youth-oriented non-government organization The Ripple Society, is on a mission to bring back smiles despite the pandemic.
During its second anniversary celebration last week, K’mmunity PH ecstatically announced that it has partnered with chibi versions of today’s raved about global K-pop group: Tinytan!
As part of its commitment to keep K’tizens up to speed on the latest K-ollections, K’mmunity will be bringing in Tinytan’s Breathable Mask collection in the Philippines for K’Tizens and hallyu fans alike! The collection will be available through Globe’s 0917 Lifestyle website starting May 17.
K’mmunity understands that the past year has been challenging, so as a way to celebrate back-to-back daebak years, K’mmunity and The Ripple Society will be donating masks to today’s modern-day heroes for every Tinytan Breath Mask purchased. This includes medical frontliners, healthcare workers, even delivery riders who are hwaiting despite the pandemic.
Netbank expands
Netbank, a banking as a service platform, is adding a range of tools in compliance, fraud management, API services and among others.
Netbank will launch its API platform in the next month and will soon be able to Make Payments, Open Accounts, Issue Loans and Issue Cards, all through APIs. Also planned is the launch of a Neo-Bank for OFWs.
Netbank is a fully regulated bank, operating under a rural banking license. It has been booking loans originated by three alternative lenders. It has also built the infrastructure needed to provide a full range of banking services, using AWS to run its core banking system.
A member of PesoNet and Instapay, with built connections to cash agents, Netbank offers low cost, high quality banking services on a white-labelled basis to fintech and other financial services companies, allowing them to accelerate their growth.
Higher transport demand with eased restrictions – SWAT MOBILITY
As NCR Plus areas graduate from Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions, SWAT Mobility expects demand for public transportation to increase as more workers will start returning to work.
Theresa Busmente, SWAT Mobility business head for the Philippines, said companies, especially outsourcing businesses, are slowly increasing the number of employees in the workplace.
“This means more people will be commuting. But with limited public utility vehicles available, commuters are expected to be caught between circumstances” she added.
SWAT Mobility might be the best option for companies both big and small to ensure that their employees are not caught between curfew hours and the dilemma of limited public transportation options.
SWAT Mobility is a Singapore-based transportation solutions provider and is the first to run high-capacity vehicle pooling services in Asia.
