GCash powers Edsa buses with contactless payment capabilities

Tweet

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, is enabling commuters to pay for their EDSA bus fares through their GCash e-wallets, as it continues to strongly support government initiatives in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Through its partnership with AF Payments Inc., the operator of tap-and-go contactless beepTM card and payments systems, GCash is empowering its users to use their mobile wallets to safely pay for their bus fares, particularly the EDSA route.

To pay for their bus fares, GCash users simply have to generate a QR code from their app and have it scanned using the beepTM handheld terminal. This reduces the need for cash handling and limits face-to-face interaction between transport personnel and commuters.

“As a strong government partner, GCash has always been supportive of the government since day one. We believe that through our platform, we are able to help the government reduce the spread of the virus and provide commuters with a safe, secure, and very convenient way of paying for their transport needs,” GCash VP and Head of Payments Jovitt Bajar said.

The government has cautiously opened the public transport sector in the past few weeks, declaring that areas under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) may restart the plying of public transport means for commuters.

The Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (DOTr-LTFRB) also required transport operators and drivers to implement contactless payments to ensure the safety of both passengers and drivers. Last week, the department announced that it is partnering with GCash for cashless payment for taxis.

Paper money is found to harbor viruses and bacteria just like any other surface, and the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people to properly wash their hands after handling cash to avoid the risk of contracting diseases, including COVID-19, from banknotes.

“Cashless is really the future, and it is being accelerated at an unprecedented pace due to the pandemic. As a pioneer and leader in the fintech space, we at GCash are ready to support the growing demand for digital payments solutions, especially in crucial services such as public transport,” Bajar said.

Today, there are over 25 million GCash users that enjoy various financial services such as bills payment to over 400 billers, physical payments to more than 75,000 merchants, online payments, fund transfers, and airtime load top ups. GCash also democratized access to other financial tools such as savings, credit, insurance, and investments all in one mobile app.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

Tech Innovator app-based motorcycle taxi Angkas to discuss Good Governance for Start Ups

Tweet

Angkas, technology innovator and pioneer in app-based motorcycle taxi services, will join the 2020 Corporate Governance Conference (CGGON) to discuss their advocacy of using technology not just as a solution to ease the burden of heavy traffic and congestion but as a tool for good governance and compliance with safety standards and regulations. 

The CGCON, which will be held in March 2020 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City was organized by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and will have the theme “How T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Creates Sustainable Businesses.” The conference introduces T.R.A.F.F.I.C., short for Transparency, Responsibility, Accountability, Fairness, Foresight, Innovation, Culture, as a business mindset for companies in achieving sustainability. 

“We have always championed the use of technology to make commuting easier for Filipinos, especially with the challenging traffic situation here in the country,” Angkas CEO Angeline Tham said during a press briefing.  

“Through our discussion at CGCON, we hope to give a better picture of how technology has worked for us both in serving the Filipino commuters and in ensuring good governance and compliance to safety rules and regulations among our biker-partners," Tham added. 

"I personally would like to emphasize that startups--particularly those oriented towards high technology--should always bear in mind that their concern should not be so much about their bottom line but about their impact to society," Tham noted.

"In Angkas, for instance, we have also always advocated safe and affordable transportation while complying with the strictest safety standards and regulations. This is the crux of our work and what we believe is our role in society," Tham maintained. "The safety of our bikers and commuters are of the utmost importance, and we will share how we have worked hard to comply with the highest safety standards and regulations.” 

The conference will feature notable thought leaders who will participate in a dialogue that aims to break the unconscious bias between emerging technology companies and disruptors, and the practice of good corporate governance. It aims to imbibe T.R.A.F.F.I.C. as a mindset for businesses to succeed in long-term value creation for the benefit of all stakeholders. 

CGCON 2020 will have an audience consisting of board chairs and directors, CEOs, CFOs, compliance officers, senior executives and managers, policy makers and regulators, institutional investors, and academics.

It plans to discuss the answer to the question on how principles of Transparency, Responsibility, Accountability, Fairness, Foresight, Innovation, and Culture (T.R.A.F.F.I.C) create sustainable businesses in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe). It also has the goal of promoting stakeholder approach towards long-term value creation among companies that thrive in the various aspects of FIRe. 

CGCON 2020 will also feature global thought leader and acclaimed American roboticist Dr. David Hanson, founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics. He will be bringing his AI creation, Sophia, the world’s first robot citizen and the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.

Dr. Hanson will be delivering a keynote entitled "Revolutionizing Boardroom Dynamics," which will touch on how artificial intelligence and robotics are changing the way information impacts the boardroom.

As part of the program, Tham will also be speaking with Sophia on the topic, “The Future is Here.” Guests will also have the chance of interacting with Sophia as they can have selfies taken with her after the talk. 

Other topics that will be discussed in the conference are: how IoT is enhancing the workplace environment, transparency, and efficiency; the ethical implications of technological advancement to the business ecosystem; and why T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is important and how it creates value for investors and stakeholders respectively. 

At the Corporate Governance Conference (CGGON) held recently, where the conference introduced T.R.A.F.F.I.C., short for Transparency, Responsibility, Accountability, Fairness, Foresight, Innovation, Culture, as a business mindset for companies in achieving sustainability. Angkas was on of the major speakers to discuss their advocacy of using technology not just as a solution to ease the burden of heavy traffic and congestion but as a tool for good governance and compliance with safety standards and regulations. In the photos are : (L-R) Backrow : Tom Syquia, Subchair for Content, ICD; Tony Cailao Member – CGCON, ICD; Fred Pascual, President ICD; Frank Newmann, Trustee ICD; George Royeca, Chief Transport Advocate, Angkas; Henry Aguda, Chairman UBX /Unionbank; Taimy Cruz, Chair for Logistics, ICD; Bert Manabat, Trustee. Front Row: Amor Maclang, Chair for Public Engagement, ICD; Ida Tiongson, Trustee ICD; Angeline Tham, CEO and Founder, Angkas; Cora Guidote, Chair – CGCON ICD; Tammy Lipana, Trustee ICD.