Provincial Government Launches Oriental Mindoro Online Pasalubong and Booking Portal App

While the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, tavelers have been slowly coming back in different places in the country. For those who don't know, the local tourism industry has been greatly affected. To help with the situation, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro has worked steadfastly worked on an something that would enhance ease of travel, buying products from towns very easy with the new LAKBAY ORIENTAL MINDORO: Buying Local, Byaheng Lokal app. 

As the name suggests, it's a one stop shop for everything that you would need to get when traveling the province of Oriental Mindoro. From purchasing your favorite pasalubongs, to booking tour services and packages, you can all do it now at the comforts of your home or hotel rooms. This is the handywork of the whole provincial government headed by Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor together with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. It was launched July 12th and promises hassle free transactions, while keeping you safe as it is all contactless too. This was witnessed by national, provincial and city government officials at the Riceland Garden in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The app has offers and promos of over 150 hotels, resorts, travel agencies, wellness centers, vehicles, tours, dive and souvenir shops which you can access ahead while you plan your itinerary or while you're in the province itself. With this as direct point of transaction for local and international travelers, balikbayans and their families, tour service providers can be accessed without you leaving your resort or hotels. That in itself is very convenient and you can download it now on the App Store or Google Play for FREE. You can also go to their website travelorientalmindoro.ph and use your email/FB account to log in. This means, you can choose services and products from the app and get the best rates. Products can be arranged for delivery at your hotel, while email confirmations can be sent if you're availing those rendered by providers which can make planning a breeze if you choose to come to the province.

You also get to earn loyalty points from your accommodation, which you can use to earn travel incentives in-app. It's easy, so you get to enjoy more time with your friends and family. Make sure you try and download the app today!

Government Transactions on PayMaya: Get the Bills Bayad Rewards

PayMaya has always been a convenient solution for me when paying for bills, groceries, even game cards when I need it. These days, they're bringing even more services to the app that now includes government agencies and give you perks.

PayMaya accepts payments of Social  Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, PRC, BIR, and you can do this via the new Bills Bayad Promo. If you pay these through the app during February 1 to March 31st (for first timers) you can get a 10% cashback voucher for it. If you've done it in the past, no worries because you can get 5% cashback for it instead. That means, you can get almost Php 200 cashback by doing it on these dates.

It could be contributions, housing amortizations, professional fees, taxes all in one place. You can also go through their official websites and pay via PayMaya. Aside from cashback rewards, you can use a Php 100 voucher to take out of your total payment by using the code BILLSBAYAD when you register, you can also load up in 60,000 partner agent touchpoints around the country to do it. Other than that, you can always tie up your bank through the app and cash in that way which is so convenient for me. You can check PayMaya.com or SmartPadala.ph for more information about it. They've got it all there!

The Truth About Unsolicited Proposals

How's your electricity bill these days? Still high? Ever felt the need to see that bill low? Properly managed? I'm sure you do. Well, I've stumbled across something that may interest you since we're all consumers.

National Coordinator for Kuryente.org Nic Satur Jr. says "The unsolicited proposal will hinder competition, and provide corruption, bring misinformation in the bidding process. This was created for consumers to get the lowest cost. We'll now have a bidding under the mercy of power producers, remember, our bill has almost half of its cost from generation. The existing process makes it allow everyone to bid, and the unsolicited proposal can be done with terms for reference which will be made by the power producer themselves. Unsolicited Proposal is currently used in other projects, and to bring more players and technologies, they wanted to push for this. It is legal, but not needed, it will bring us back to a time where they get non-negotiated deals. If I am the power producer, I will just fix terms and challenge it with the price I want to win and disqualify other power producers. We're not saying this will lead to corruption, but if not done right, it will. At present, the Philippines is not ready for it, nor does it need it. The House Resolution 1874 should be discussed, to create implementing rules and regulation as its present form is very prone to sweetheart deals that would be detrimental to the consumer. The Filipino consumer will suffer."

Kuryente.org was created for energy consumer welfare and Amin or Anak Mindanao Partylist just issued a joint statement together with stakeholders, consumers and media entities aware of this:

 

Amihilda Sangcopan says "I join you today not just as a legislator but a member of electric power consumers. Amin has filed House Resolution 1874 to conduct investigation into DOE, to reconsider to amend its policy on competitive selection process in the power supply, entertaining unsolicited proposals that will breed unfair competition. It will hinder access to affordable electricity guaranteed by our constitution Article 12."

Ricky Juab, Mindanao based consumer adds "The situation of Misamis Oriental is really hard especially for electric cooperatives even now during the pandemic. We consumers wish that every policy that the government does, our side would be heard. We are suffering in Misamis Oriental, where our cooperative has failed to give supply electricity and we experience blackouts, most of which are fluctuating, breaking most of our household appliances... everyday we have been experiencing it, until now. Even informed, we still are experiencing power outages, but still getting the same bill. We sometimes get double, this happens with other consumers in Mindanao. DOE wants Unsolicited Proposal, which will disable most of our safeguards. It is prone to corruption, to follow their terms and conditions. Prices will get worse, so we consumers implore DOE to stop it. This is inhumane and improper."

Parent Mel Salda gave her thoughts and say "The pandemic pushed us all to work remotely. Working as a Virtual Assistant, it has increased our energy consumption, increased cost of living. DOE should ease our burden instead of adding to it. Unsolicited Proposal is going to get us to pay for an even higher price for electricity in Asia. This would be a burden to single parents like me."

It's good that they are doing this very early and not just reacting to it when it gets implemented. Just like them, I'd like to see relief for the Filipino people. If you want to know more about the energy sector and consumer protection, you may visit Kuryente.org who's part of the movement.