DOTr-CAB To Give Senior Citizens, PWDs 20% Discount On Online Booking for Domestic Travel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Senior citizens and Persons with Disability (PWD) may soon avail a 20% discount when booking a domestic flight online.

The Department of Transportation - Civil Aeronautics Board approved yesterday, 13 July 2017, the Resolution requiring local airlines to give a 20% discount on tickets purchased via the carrier's website or a mobile application. Prior to this, the discount was only applied to face to face transactions.

Under the Resolution, senior citizens, PWDs, or their representatives must input the passenger’s details including date of birth and ID number indicated in the Senior Citizen or PWD card.

CAB directed airlines to establish in their websites the necessary system to be able to process the 20% discount based on the actual fare, including promotional fares that were directly sold by the airlines. The discount, however, shall not cover lawful taxes and other fees and charges imposed in relation to domestic air travel.

A breakdown and summary of the amount to be paid must be known to the Senior Citizen or PWD before the completion of the transaction. The document confirming the passenger’s seat reservation or booking must likewise indicate that the passenger was granted the 20% discount for proper verification at the check-in counter.

Passengers who avail of the discount must present necessary identification upon check-in.

The resolution will take effect 15 days after publication. After which, airlines will be given two months from date of effectivity to develop and fully implement a virtual system that would apply the discount on online transactions.

The discount shall not be applicable to tickets sold by virtue of indirect or external sales promotions which contain promises of gain, such as through winning in a contest, game, and other similar competitions which involve determination of winner/s.

Smart Supports Davao City, MM Quake Drills, Deploys Emergency Communications Equipment

Wazzup Pilipinas!

PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications will provide emergency communications support for the earthquake and tsunami drills in Davao City and Metro Manila on July 14, 2017.

The drills, which will simulate a magnitude-7.2 earthquake situation, will start at 9 a.m. in Davao City and 4 p.m. in Metro Manila.

Officials of Davao City and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will signal the start of the city- and metro-wide drills by using Smart’s Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS), which will send alert messages to residents in the area informing them of the activity. To date, Smart is the only telco to comply with Republic Act No. 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, via the ECBS.

Smart will also deploy Smart Satellite solutions and LTE mobile connectivity to ensure uninterrupted communications among response units. These services will complement the free calling and charging services for the use of earthquake and tsunami drill participants.

Leading the drill in Davao City are Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer and Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon, and key participating units. In Metro Manila, the event will be spearheaded by the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) and managed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other agencies and stakeholders.

“I encourage all Dabawenyos to participate in the 1st Davao City earthquake and tsunami drill on Friday, July 14, because this will help us prepare ourselves in the event a tsunami or an earthquake hits Davao City,” said Mayor Duterte. “It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our communities and our homes are aware and knowledgeable of the things that should be done in cases of emergencies. Preparation, which involves learning or acquiring emergency skills, is critical in protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities. Readiness is key to survival,” she added.

“We understand how important communication is, especially in times of calamities. Our ECBS and satellite solutions, as well as traditional fixed and wireless services, are deployed to affected areas as we recognize communications as a form of relief,” said Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT and Smart public affairs head.

As a member of the emergency telecommunications cluster of the NDRRMC, Smart has provided communication aid during calamities, including free broadcast alerts, free texts, calls and charging, and satellite solutions to LGUs and response teams.

Smart is also a founding signatory of GSMA’s Human Connectivity Charter (HCC), which aims to empower operators to improve their disaster resilience through mobile technology.

Through its #SafePH advocacy and as part of its commitment to the HCC, Smart promotes resilience using technology and communications. The company’s disaster risk reduction initiatives have helped instill a culture of preparedness among its partners and the general public. These include emergency mobile solutions such as the Batingaw disaster preparedness app and the Agos community aid SMS platform, as well as on-ground community caravans such as the Tropang Ready educational series for the youth.

Power Mac Center Goes All-Out for ‘Cinemansanas’ 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A jam-packed second edition of Power Mac Center Pixelworx: Cinemansanas awaits film artists all over the country as the premier Apple reseller goes all-out this year. Among the highlights are Masterclass sessions with award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, a digital short film competition, post production workshops, film scholarship grants, and in-store games, which all culminate in a Grand Movie Premiere at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema.

Power Mac Center tapped Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza to hold Masterclass sessions and share techniques on how to make movie concepts come to life. The sessions will be exclusive to 23 aspiring filmmakers selected for the extensive three-day acting, directing, and cinematography workshop. Application is coursed through Power Mac Center and runs until July 30, 2017.

In the bid to continue challenging artists to break convention, there will be another digital short film competition for videos shot and edited using Apple devices. Film submissions must be made specifically for the Pixelworx: Cinemansanas “Do you have a Minute Film Competition.” Entries may be about any subject but must run for no longer than 60 seconds. Deadline of submission is on August 25, 2017.

To assist in completing the film entries, Power Mac Center Apple Certified trainers will be holding Post Production workshops on Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X. Online registration is required as limited slots are available.