DOTC Awards Its First PPP Project: AFCS to Modernize Rail Ticketing Experience in 2015

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the first of its many projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program to a joint venture led by the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups last Thursday, 30 January 2014.

“We are pleased to announce that a modern ticketing system is on its way for our train riders. This is part of the DOTC’s effort to improve our services at the LRT and the MRT. The AFCS will provide passengers with more comfort, convenience, and efficiency in their daily commute, at no cost to government or to the passengers,” said DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

The Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), a tap-and-go ticketing scheme for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) rail systems, is envisioned to improve passenger comfort and convenience by cutting queuing time and allowing seamless transfers from one rail line to another.

SM Bowling Center and Ice Skating Rink Makes a Comeback at SM Fashion Hall!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A grand back-to-back comeback of the SM Bowling Center and Ice Skating Rink at SM Megamall's new Fashion Hall made a spectacular launch last January 28, 2014. Members of the media were invited to attend the celebration to witness the newest and coolest entertainment hubs in the metro that are now located at the 4th and 5th levels of the SM Mega Fashion Hall - the newly-opened lifestyle wing of SM Megamall.

First on the back-to-back launch was the launch of the new SM Ice Skating Rink where guests were treated to skating performances of current and previous students of the SM Ice Skating Rink. Solo and group performances on ice were made at the Olympic-sized Ice Skating Rink located at the 5th floor of SM Mega Fashion Hall.

Next, we moved on to the 4th level to witness the launch of the new SM Bowling Center which features cutting-edge technology with the Bowler Entertainment System X (BES X) which allows customers to enjoy the game by combining the essentials of bowling and the most advanced offering of this new entertainment system to the market. To pursue fun and connection with today's digital age, the innovative system allows bowlers to chat with each other while playing and post their final game scores in their own Facebook walls.  It has the most updated scoring system which gives players the option to personalize their digital score board with their own photos.

Providing some musical entertainment through his hyper-energetic mixed beats was the gorgeous DJ David Callum.

Tourism Promotions Board of DOT Signs MOA with Manila Shimbun

Domingo Ramon Enerio III, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), shakes hand with Nobuhiko Hashimoto, adviser of the Asian International Community Information, Inc. (AICI) after signing  Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An assortment of articles and photos on Philippine tourist destinations, specifically targeted to the Japanese outbound travel market, will be made available to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, to support its marketing communications programs.

The TPB recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Asian International Community Information (AICI), Inc. as partnership for the use of feature articles and high resolution photos published by AICI’s The Daily Manila Shimbun (TDMS), the publishing firm of the Navi Manila Magazine and the Navi de Cebu Magazine. AICI has copyrights to the articles and photos.

Navi Manila Magazine, a tourist guide for Japanese visiting the Philippines written in the Japanese language, with Navi de Cebu, tourist magazine for Japanese tourists and residents in Cebu, specialize in travel articles on tourist attractions in the Philippines. The contents of both magazines are appropriate for better marketing of Philippine tourism in Japan.