eBPS phase 2: Subic activates online payment for port transactions

Stakeholders in Subic can now pay their port dues online through Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority's (SBMA) Electronic Billing and Payment System (eBPS).

eBPS, carried out in partnership with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), allows Subic Bay Freeport locators, residents, and seaport users to access, view, and print their online billing statements.

The first phase of eBPS was launched last year to facilitate delivery of monthly statement of accounts (SOA) to locators and residents in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and remittance of payment, through LBP's electronic banking services.

The deployment of the e-BPS Phase 2 includes other payment transactions, including seaport charges and US-dollar denominated SBMA fees, and the remittance of payment through other BancNet member banks.

Payments can be made online via an automatic debit arrangement using the person's LBP account or ATM card for a minimum service charge of P25 per transaction for peso-denominated billings and US$0.75 per transaction for dollar-denominated billings.

SBMA, in an advisory to locators and residents, said the project is part of its continuing efforts to improve its services.

To avail of the service, the user should go SBMA's website (www.mysubicbay.com.ph). Click on the SBMA-eBPS logo, and complete the online registration process. (Liza Almonte, PortCalls)

PHOTO:
e-BPS login page in SBMA's official website (click on image to go to the page).


Read more: http://www.portcalls.com/subic-activates-online-payment-port-transactions/#

Related: http://subicnewslink.blogspot.com/2015/10/sbma-launches-e-bills-payment-system.html

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SBMA launches e-bills, payment system for locators

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently launched its electronic Billing and Payment System (e-BPS) to facilitate delivery of monthly statement of accounts (SOA) to locators and residents in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and remittance of payment, initially through the electronic banking services of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said the SBMA e-BPS is the first such government system, and suggested other government agencies, particularly Clark Freeport Zone, and Freeport Area of Bataan, to consider adopting the same.

He said he expected the immediate deployment of the e-BPS Phase 2, which would include other payment transactions, including seaport charges and US-dollar denominated SBMA fees, and the remittance of payment through other BancNet member banks.

In lieu of the delivery of the monthly SOA, the SBMA will send email notification to locators and residents that their SOA has been posted online. With a hyperlink to the SBMA portal, locators and residents will be able to view their respective SOA, and authorize Landbank to electronically remit the payment of the outstanding amount from their account for credit to the SBMA account. Upon receipt of the electronic payment confirmation from Landbank, SBMA will update the e-BPS to reflect said statement.

The e-BPS is being implemented by the SBMA in collaboration with InterCommerce Network Services, Inc., a value-added service provider accredited by SBMA and other government trade regulatory agencies. (PortCalls.com)

PHOTO:
At the launching ceremony of e-BPS are SBMA officials led by Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (4th from left, seated) and lawyer Ramon O. Agregado (3rd from left, seated), along with LandBank representatives, Anthon C. Ferolino (left of Garcia), Vice-President, LandBank-Central Luzon Banking Group; Sylvia C. Lim (6th from left), Asst. Vice President of LandBank Subic Branch; Frank Lopez (extreme left, seated), President of Inter Commerce Network Services; Ninna Richelle H. Veran (6th from left, standing), Head of Cash Management Solutions Department and Paul Christian C. Cortez (9th from left, standing). (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.portcalls.com/sbma-launches-ebills-payment-system-locators/

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LandBank extends $27-M loan to SBMA

State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines recently approved a $27-million term loan for the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

In a statement, the bank said that the loan will be used to refinance and take-out part of SBMA’s existing foreign loans.

“A top dollar depositor of the LandBank Subic Branch, the SBMA plays a major role in promoting tourism and enabling industrial, commercial and investment growth in the Subic-Clark region, which in turn generates employment and contributes significantly to the country’s economic growth,” it said.

Roberto Garcia, SBMA chairman and administrator, and Edward John Reye, LandBank senior vice president for Corporate Banking, signed the loan agreement.

LandBank recently reported that its loan portfolio grew to P280 billion in the first nine months of 2013, up by 16 percent from P241.9 billion in September 2012.

Loans to its priority sectors expanded to P221.7 billion, representing 79.2 percent of the bank’s total loan portfolio.

LandBank’s priority sectors comprise, among others, agri-aqua-related projects of local governments and government- owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), small farmers and fisher folk, microenterprises and small and medium enterprises, and socialized to medium-cost housing, and utilities. Loans to agri-aqua-related projects of local government and GOCCs reached P45.2 billion

Meanwhile, the bank registered a P10.4-billion net income for the third quarter of the year, a 36-percent increase from its year-ago level of P7.6 billion. Its nine-month net income translates to a return on equity of 17.44 percent. (Mayvelin U. Caraballo, Manila Times)

http://manilatimes.net/landbank-extends-27-m-loan-to-sbma/55892/

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‘Hassle-free’ cash card launched in Subic Free Port

Vacations and leisure trips to popular tourism attractions in this free port have just gotten more efficient with the recent introduction of a cashless-transaction system for paying the bills.

This, after Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and Pilipinas Micro-Matrix Technology Inc. (PMTI), an information and communications technology firm based in this free port, launched the RCBC MyWallet-WOW Mangga Card that integrated features of an ATM card and a credit card.

Prior to the cobranding venture, MyWallet is known as a prepaid stored-value ATM/cash card designed to give holders easy access to the bank’s deposit and withdrawal facilities, as well as faster transactions with business establishments.

The WOW Mangga Card, on the other hand, was recently introduced in the Subic Bay Free Port for cashless payment with accredited business theme parks, hotels, restaurants and other tourism establishments.

The resulting fusion of features “introduces the convenience of cashless transactions with fast and accurate payments that also eliminate the problem of short-changing due to the unavailability of coins,” the firms said in a statement.

The RCBC-WOW Mangga card can also be used for the unique “hop-on, hop-off” transportation system recently introduced by WOW Card to efficiently bring visitors to various tourism attractions in the Subic Bay Free Port.

The card, which is now available in RCBC branches nationwide, also allows family vacationers to plan ahead for their trips to Subic with the “Pack Your Own Package” scheme that also provides discounts.

The introduction of the cashless- transaction system, said Raul Marcelo, deputy administrator for business development of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), “will definitely boost the tourism program in the Subic Bay Free Port Zone.”

“At the same time, this will bring Subic to the next level, as far as adapting technology to bolster tourism is concerned,” he added.

The SBMA had earlier endorsed the introduction of PMTI’s WOW Mangga Card to draw more foreign tourists who are more at home with cashless transactions.

“With WOW Card’s joint venture with RCBC, Subic’s bid to be at the cutting edge of technology is further strengthened,” Marcelo said. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror Online)

IN PHOTO -- OFFICIALS of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and Pilipinas Micro-Matrix Technology Inc. (PMII) conclude an agreement integrating RCBC’s MyWallet with PMTI’s WOW Mangga Card for cashless-transactions convenience at the Subic Bay Free Port. Photo shows (from left) RCBC executives Emma Siapno, Nestor Pineda and Ismael Mike Sandig, and PMTI officials Laurence Ilicito and Sarah Jane Sandoval. H. EMPEÑO

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