THE Department of Energy (DOE) said on Friday that it has tapped the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to produce cards for the “Pantawid Pasada” program of the government.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, BPI executive vice president Ma. Ysabel Sylianteng and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) first vice president for NCR branches group Daisy Macalino recently signed the memorandum of agreement at the Philippine National Oil Co.
The DOE said BPI topped four other bidders through a bidding done by the DOE’s Bids and Awards Committee.
The DOE said BPI will be the sole generator of the Public Transport Assistance (PTA) cards while LBP will assist the DOE by being the agency’s settlement bank.
BPI will generate and personalize 220,000 PTA cards worth P50 each for qualified public-utility jeepneys and will be responsible in the timely delivering of the cards for the start of distribution on May 2.
The DOE said the card will bear information such as the franchise number, plate number and route of the public-utility vehicle.
The DOE expects to completely distribute the PTA cards for Metro Manila before the end of May, while regional distribution will soon follow with LTO branches handling the distribution.
Card distribution will be done in phases in accordance with the card delivery of BPI.
In terms of the cost, Almendras said the budget for the program will be intact for the drivers qualified for the assistance.
“The entire P450 million will go to the beneficiaries,” Almendras said.
He said they are currently in talks with oil companies for an arrangement that will pass on the cost of the cards to the oil firms as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The DOE said such an arrangement will only be acceptable if there are no conditions.
Almendras added that BPI will also provide the necessary infrastructure to enable PTA card users to use their card in every gasoline station such as reprogramming of point-of-sale (POS) terminals of other banks and providing additional POS terminals.
The DOE reminded drivers to take care of their cards even after consuming its balance.
Starting June 1, according to the DOE, gasoline stations will require drivers to present their PTA cards to be able to avail themselves of fuel through the discount lane. PTA cards are valid up to five years and can be used for future related programs of the government.
1 comment:
I'm happy because BPI wins the the "Pantawid Pasada" were in I deposit some of my money in the Philippines.
Post a Comment