beep Card Presents Modern PUV Automated Fare Collection Solutions at 2nd PhilAPEX

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III (third from left) visits the beep™ booth displaying its latest payment solutions for public transportation during the 2nd Philippine Auto Parts Expo at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia. beep™ payment solutions offer a working fare collection system that can be readily installed in modern jeepneys and other PUVs. It supports the government’s PUV Modernization Program, which aims to make public transportation more convenient, safe, and environment-friendly.

With Delgra are AF Payments Inc. executives Johan Diaz (Senior Business Development Manager), Peter Maher (President and CEO), and Agnes Padilla (Marketing Head).

Interested parties may inquire about available beep™ card solutions at <johan.diaz@afpayments.com>.

UBE Express to Offer Free Rides Around Araneta Center for 3 Weekends

Wazzup Pilipinas! Starting August 18, UBE Express will offer free rides to the public going around Araneta Center via its articulated bus for three straight weekends. Starting August 18, UBE Express will offer free rides to the public going around Araneta Center via its articulated bus for three straight weekends. The articulated buses will pick up and drop off passengers at the Araneta Center Bus Station, the Smart Araneta Coliseum Green Gate, the Ali Mall on General McArthur Avenue and the Manhattan Heights on General Romulo Avenue on August 18, 19, 25, 26 and September 1, 2 and 3. The scheduled dispatches are at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm. These trips are a prelude to the upcoming launch of UBE Express’ premium point-to-point route that will run from Araneta Center to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, and back, which will be launched on September 3. UBE Express’ articulated buses are 61-feet tall and can accommodate up to 156 passengers. Meanwhile, Araneta Center’s environment-friendly e-shuttle services will remain in operation all days of the week from 12 noon to 9 p.m. The service, which picks up and drops off passengers at the Gateway Mall and Ali Mall, is a unique and free offering of Araneta Center to its shoppers and senior citizen visitors. At 35 hectares, the Araneta Center is one of the biggest mixed-use commercial hubs in the country. Visit www.aranetacenter.net for more details or follow our social media accounts: @aranetacenter on Facebook and Twitter and @thearanetacenter on Instagram.

DOST-SEI Boosts Scholarship Programs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) revealed recent developments regarding its scholarship programs, which include an increase in the number of slots being offered and a higher monthly stipend rate for all its scholars.

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña and DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo made the announcement in a press conference held last July 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. 

The event coincides with the celebration of the 2018 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), which Biyo considers an opportune time to drum up the public’s interest in DOST’s scholarship program.

DOST-SEI recently posted the names of 8,994 new qualifiers for its undergraduate scholarships, the biggest batch since the program started in 1958. 

Biyo hopes to further increase the number of scholars being supported in by DOST-SEI from 20,618 in 2016 to a target number of 33,256 scholars for 2019.

Scholars will also benefit from the increased monthly stipend of 7,000 pesos per month from the previous amounts of 5,000 to 6,000 pesos. 

This is in addition to the 40,000 pesos per year tuition and other school fees subsidy, 10,000 pesos per year book allowance, one-time 1,000-peso uniform allowance; one-time 1,000-peso graduation allowance, one economy-class round trip fare per year for those studying outside their home province, and group insurance. 

“Through the new benefits in our scholarship program, we hope to get more scholars and graduates who will eventually work in S&T for the country,” de la Peña said.

Biyo acknowledged top scholar-graduates, Ruben James Rosal and John Kenneth Malilay, who joined the panel to share their experiences as DOST scholars. “The testimonies of our scholars are always the best proof of the effectiveness of our programs,” she said.

Interested Grade 12 students are encouraged to submit their applications for the 2019 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Science and Technology Scholarship until August 31, 2018. Examination will be on October 21, 2018. 

Incoming 3^rd year college students taking identified S&T programs are likewise invited to apply in the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) program. JLSS application ends on September 14, 2018. Examination is scheduled on October 20, 2018. For details, you may log on to www.sei.dost.gov.ph or email seischolarships@gmail.com.