First GPS-enabled taxi dispatching system in the country

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
— Recently, three large taxi companies, Sturdy, R & E and Mabuhay Taxi  in Davao City, launched the first Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled taxi dispatching system in Philippines.

The integrated GPS-enabled taxi dispatching system will take job orders received from the call centre and automatically assigns a passenger’s call for service to the nearest available taxis in the area.

Taxi drivers can respond by placing their bid for the order as well as locate their prospective passengers through the GPS system. This results in faster response time from the point of order to passenger pick-up as well as better customer service.

According to SmartTaxi Dispatching Inc. Managing Director Michael Ranola, “The deployment of GPS system aimed towards a better management and efficient usage of our taxi fleets. We also want to help our taxi drivers build a stronger and more stable income.

“With the GPS dispatching system, the income of taxi drivers can increase as much as 50% as they no longer need to drive around aimlessly to look for passengers or compete with other taxi drivers for the same passenger.”

In addition to that, the response from the taxi community towards the GPS enabled taxis has been encouraging since its introduction.

To-date, there are more than 150 Sturdy and RE taxis have been fitted with the GPS system. By just paying a small monthly fee, taxi drivers can subscribe to the SmartTaxi Dispatching system and will be trained on how to use the system.

Mabuhay Taxi owner Ryan Tan said “I am encouraged to know SmartTaxi Dispatching Inc has taken steps to advance the taxi service in our country as well as improve the income of taxi drivers with the GPS system and taxi booking app,” Currently, 100 taxis are successfully operating and hundred more taxis to come.

“At Sturdy and RE, we believe good taxi service comes about when taxi drivers are able to earn a decent income and our aim is to provide a quicker turn-around for taxi booking and a more efficient income generation for our taxi drivers. ,” said Jason Enriquez, President Sturdy Taxi.


copyright: MB.com.ph

Davao City gets Electronic Senior Citizen IDs

Davao City, Philippines
→ Seniors often need to present their ID cards in order to avail of senior citizen benefits and privileges. But the problem with these ID cards is that they are flimsy and have an expiry date that necessitates replacement every few years.

With the new electronic ID system, Davao City senior citizens only have to apply for these hard, durable, permanent plastic IDs once. And in addition to being senior citizen cards, these free IDs are also valid for other legal transactions. 

Updating the senior citizen database for Davao City bought about the by registration for the new ID cards bought the seniors another perk. Unlike in other cities in the Philippines where the seniors need to carry 3 booklets for their medicines, groceries and when purchasing of agricultural products, Davao seniors on now have an integrated senior citizen booklet for all their purchases.

To avail of the cards, seniors just need to bring their old ID cards to the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) along with the following requirements:

Filled-up application forms
1 x 1 Picture (Latest) 2 pieces
Residence Certificate – Current Year (Photo Copy)
Proof of age: ANY of the following
Birth Certificate
Baptismal Certificate
Voters ID
Voters Certification
Islamic Rite of Childbirth (ISLAM)
Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Person
Proof of Residency – BARANGAY CERTIFICATION

The OSCA started beta testing the new IDs last July 16. The OSCA officially started the replacement of senior citizen ID cards for senior residents in District 1 last September 3 and will last until October 31. Senior citizens from District 2 can start getting their cards from November 3 to 29 while District 3 senior residents can get their cards from December 3 to 21. OSCA will continue to replace senior citizen cards with RA 9994 at the back starting February 1, 2013

The OSCA plans to increase the number of senior citizen ID released per day by increasing the number of ID printing machines. They also plan to make the ID registration process more accessible, especially for homebound or seniors with disabilities, by launching mobile ID printing stations and ID registration caravans in the barangays.

Mr. Luis Moran, OSCA Chief of Staff, urges establishments all over the Philippines to respect both the new and old senior citizen cards. “We plan to eventually replace all the senior citizen cards in Davao City with the new electronic IDs. And senior citizens with the new IDs don’t have to worry as these cards will be recognized nationwide. Until further announcement, we at OSCA call upon all establishments to honor the old and new senior citizen cards and we encourage our seniors to get their cards as soon possible to avoid the crowds.”


copyright: GMA Network News



And to add more, check out this announcement from the
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Advisory (New Electronic ID System) in Davao City Gov't website , published on Sep. 10, 2012.

NEW ELECTRONIC ID SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Replacement of the Senior Citizens IDs with RA 7432 and RA 9257 at the back for:

• District 1 will be on September 3, 2012 until October 31, 2012
• District 2 will be on November 3-29, 2012
• District 3 on December 3-21, 2012

Replacement of Senior Citizens IDs with RA 9994 at the back will start on February 1, 2013 onwards.

Note:
All white Senior Citizens Identification Cards with RA 7432, RA 9257, and RA 9994 at the back are still valid and will be accepted until the schedules of the new electronic ID system replacement is finished.
Electronic ID system (E-Card) replacement and application will be conducted at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, Ground Floor, Sangguniang Panlungsod Bldg., Magallanes St., Davao City.
For inquiries you may contact 222-8061 or 295-7426.

The First Cab Company in the Philippines to use Cashless Payment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
—  Starting today (Friday), Davao City will have the most advanced mode of payment for cabs in the Philippine history. The City is now at par with the rest of the world who is using the cashless payment in riding a taxi cab.

The Mabuhay Black Taxi | Photo courtesy: Davao City Mayor  Sara Duterte-Carpio 

Mabuhay Taxi, one of the biggest and oldest taxi fleet operators here in Davao City, teamed up with China Bank, BancNet and Megalink to pioneer cashless payments for taxis in the Philippines, according to Chinabank.ph

The deal, the first of its kind in the country, is a pioneering project to promote card-based transactions which is already popular in the rest of the world. China Bank Davao - Lanang Branch facilitated the deployment of state-of-the art wireless POS terminals of Mabuhay Taxi, one of its long-time valued clients, aided by the Bank’s Cash Management Services Division.

In an agreement signed by the parties last April 12, at least 20 units of Mabuhay Taxi will be installed with wireless point-of-sale (POS) terminals for the initial roll out. Over 200 units will follow.

The taxis won't even charge a minimum. "Even if it is below P100, the transaction will still be processed,” said Joselito Crisostomo, branch head of China Bank Davao-Lanang.
“I hope that more businesses will be inclined to adopt this technology as a payment channel for their goods and services,” added BancNet Executive Vice President and COO Aris Zafra.

Mabuhay Taxi is the first taxicab company in the Philippines to offer this service to its passengers.
And Davao City is the first City in the country who will experience this high tech ways of paying the taxi cab.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor "Inday"Sarah Duterte-Carpio also announced this on her Facebook Fanpage.