DOTr-TRB: SMCTC, NLEX Corp., MPTC ink MOA for interoperability testing of AutoSweep and EasyTrip RFID cashless toll payment systems

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) today announced that the SMC TPLEX Corp. (SMCTC), the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), and the NLEX Corp. (NLEX) have agreed to conduct testing for the interoperability of their systems last Friday, 04 December 2020.

The toll operators and concessionaires signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to jointly test the use of AutoSweep and EasyTrip radio frequency identification (RFID) cashless toll payments for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and to determine the Read Rate Percentage.

SMCTC, a subsidiary of the San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC), and the concessionaire and the operator of the TPLEX, uses the AutoSweep RFID tag. Meanwhile, the MPTC, the investment holding company of the NLEX Corp. (operator of the NLEX and SCTEX), uses the EasyTrip RFID tag for its electronic toll collection.

The test is part of the ongoing campaign by the DOTr, through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), to implement a policy of toll interoperability for the fast, efficient, and seamless travel of motorists along various toll roads, as the country continues to recover from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Signatories to the MOA were San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) head Lorenzo Formoso III and SMHC CFO Raoul Romulo; NLEX Chief Finance Officer Jose Luigi Bautista and NLEX Corp. Chief Finance Officer Maria Theresa Wells; and MPTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco.

DOTr Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade witnessed the signing of the MOA.

Secretary Tugade expressed his appreciation to the toll operators and concessionaires for their willingness to fast-track the necessary measures to fully implement the toll interoperability policy for the benefit of motorists and commuters, especially now that measures, such as strict physical distancing and cashless transactions, are being enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“We are grateful to our private partners who have demonstrated their unparalleled support in this project. We need their assistance to fast-track the necessary measures to fully implement toll interoperability. Hindi ‘ho namin ito kakayanin mag-isa. Tulung-tulong ‘ho tayo muli. At dahil sa kinakaharap nating pandemya, kailangan 'ho nating bilisan ang programang ito,” Secretary Tugade said.

Under the MOA, a steering committee will be created to implement and monitor the Parties’ compliance with the agreement. An AutoSweep RFID sticker will be activated using an EasyTrip account, and an EasyTrip RFID sticker will be activated using an AutoSweep account. The test will involve 45 vehicles, composed equally of the different vehicle classifications.

The interoperability testing will be conducted for 14 consecutive days. After the test, the participants will submit their test transaction reports and dashcam video recordings to the steering committee for validation and assessment. The steering committee is given five (5) days, from the complete submission of the data collected, to determine the read rate percentage or the system's performance indicator when comparing RFID infrastructure.

It may be recalled that the Toll Collection Interoperability project was launched in 2017 with the signing of a MOA between the toll operators and concessionaires where they agreed to "timely, smoothly, and fairly implement the interoperability of the electronic toll collection (ETC) systems."

DOST-SEI Official Statement on Scholars' Stipends

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The Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) DOST-SEI would like to assure the public and all stakeholders of its continuing commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of all our scholars amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They recently consulted with the various universities under the National Science Consortium (NSC) towards revisiting their existing policies and revising these where possible so as to help the scholars better cope with these trying times.

In particular, they are looking at ways to help scholars receive funding in a more timely manner given the adjustments and concessions that universities have had to undertake in the wake of the pandemic. They are also revisiting policies on the disbursement of funds so as to better provide for their needs above and beyond the demands of the classroom—an urgent concern, given how many of them have been thrust into the thick of research early in their programs.

They recognize that the unusual circumstances of the ongoing pandemic have necessitated major changes and adjustments across all sectors of society, and it behooves them to join hands with their scholars and stakeholders in working through this temporary period of upheaval and uncertainty.

The stipends for current undergraduate and graduate scholars were already released in full in the latter half of this year. Meanwhile, they are working for the prompt release of stipends for new scholars within the coming months. As they make these adjustments, they are looking forward to improving their services through constant dialogue with the NSC, scholars, and stakeholders.

DOST-SEI remains committed to working towards a COVID-free society, with science in full service of the Filipino people.

State of Qatar in Manila delivers aid to Philippine Red Cross for typhoon victims

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Manila delivers more than 40 tons of urgent humanitarian aid to the Philippine Red Cross for victims and those affected by typhoon (VAMCO) in the Philippines

With directives of His Highness Sheikh/ Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, "may Allah protect him", to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the victims and those who were affected by the recent super typhoon (VAMCO) that struck the Philippines, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar In the Republic of the Philippines, on Friday, December 04, 2020, handed over to Senator/ Richard Gordon, President of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), during an official turn-over ceremony held at the (PRC) building, more than 40 tons of various food and non-food items, shelter, tents, water and sanitation units, generators, rescue boats, and other items, provided by Qatar Fund.

The urgent humanitarian aid - that arrived at Manila Airport (NAIA) on Friday morning on- board Emiri Air Force cargo plane - comes through an air bridge “Airlift” from the Qatari Armed Forces, as it comes within the framework of the Qatari extended bid to help friends in the Republic of the Philippines, and a commitment from the State of Qatar to alleviate the suffering of the victims, and to strengthen International efforts in the field of emergency relief.

It is worthy to note that Senator/ Richard Gordon, President of the Philippine Red Cross, praised Qatar aid and thanked Qatar for its humanitarian efforts, considering the State of Qatar key and strategic partner of the Philippines in this field, through its support for the Qatar Red Crescent, which works in coordination with the local partner, the Philippine Red Cross. Senator / Gordon also mentioned some examples of projects and contributions provided by the State of Qatar to the Philippines during the last period.

It is worth noting that the Qatari humanitarian aid program is implemented in cooperation and partnership between Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent, while the materials on the ground will be distributed urgently to those affected by the super typhoon in coordination between the Qatari Red Crescent and the Philippine Red Cross.