Congresswoman Hits GCash and E-Payment Charges

REP. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA                       
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Secretary-General, The Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc.
Deputy Majority Leader | Governor, Rotary Philippines RID3780
0917-729-2437 Twitter: @BHherrerady

RANKING SOLON SLAMS GCASH, PAYMAYA FOR NOT HOLDING OFF E-PAYMENTS CHARGES TO UNTIL DEC. 31, 2020

I object to the decision of GCash and PayMaya to start charging their customers fees for use of PESONet and InstaPay e-payments mechanisms starting October 31.

These companies should rethink their decisions. During this pandemic crisis, especially in the areas still under MECQ and GCQ, every peso counts.

The other financial institutions opted to waive e-payment charges until December 31 this year. They made the prudent and compassionate decision.

P50.00, the maximum charge per transaction, can buy one kilo of rice and ingredients for one vegetable meal or about seven eggs.

For the poor, who have been using e-payments for the first time during this pandemic, the fees would be yet another disincentive to use e-payments. They would go back to have little or no

access to financial services. They will go back to being unbanked.

It is not yet too late for GCash and PayMaya to change their minds. (END)

Virtual Forum to Boost Luzon LGU Implementation

Virtual Forum to Boost Luzon LGU Implementation of the PH EE&C Law

 

TAGUIG CITY - The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the European Union supported Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU-ASEP), ASEP-Clean Energy Living Laboratories, and the Asian Development Bank, will host the virtual Luzon Energy Efficiency and Conservation Forum for Local Development from 1 to 2 October 2020 via Microsoft Teams.

 

The online event would provide participants, particularly local government units in Luzon and energy stakeholders, an overview of the salient features of Republic Act No. 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act of 2019 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on 12 April 2019, the EE&C Act aims to secure the country's energy supply by making EE&C a national way of life.

 

Other topics to be discussed during the two-day forum are local EE&C plan development, designated establishments, energy performance and labeling, certification for professional competency and accreditation for professional services, demand-side management, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, and the updated Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design of Buildings. 

 

DOE Senior Undersecretary Jesus Cristino Posadas and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Operations and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Officer Epimaco Densing III are scheduled to deliver keynote addresses, while DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino will be delivering a presentation on the EE&C Act of 2019, its IRR, and other related programs and policy issuances. 

 

With over 200 expected participants, the Forum is seen to be a major step that would help mainstream national EE&C policy for inclusive development in Luzon.