By Leo Udtohan
The first ECPay in Bohol was launched last Feb. 27, 2023. The do-it-yourself Vending Machine Online Payment by Globe Telecom can be found outside the Plaza Marcela.
Present during the event were Dennis Ruiz, operation manager of M &M celldepot; Airen Te, operation manager of Globe Broadband; Aldrin Avergonzado, business development expert; and Edsel Angeles, mall manager of Plaza Marcela.
Ruiz said Globe Telecom has introduced the use of ECPay for a cashless-contactless transactions.
He said ECPay is reliable and convenient as many Filipinos have shifted to digital channels.
ECPay is a company engaged in the provision of information technology and electronic commerce related solutions, and operates a multi-tiered platform that offers secure electronic solutions for various transactions such as load purchases.
"Mobile technologies continue to evolve to make our life easier and we now see cashless payments using mobile phones," said Avergonzado.
Avergonzado said they place ECPay machines in towns.
This time, members of the Association of United Development Information Officers (Audio)-Bohol, have helped to combat cybercrimes in the country by conducting a SIM Sign-Up Drive.
The info drive in partnership with Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Bohol was held at Bohol Island State University (BISU)- Tagbilaran Campus on Thursday, March 2.
As of 12 noon, there were are at least 400 teachers and students have their prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards registered.
Ma. Lydia Bantugan, president of Audio, said that the info drive would lessen victims of fraud and scam.
"This is to spread awareness on the importance of registering their SIM cards as this will help combat cybercrimes in the country," she said.
"They should register at once and not to wait for the deadline to lapse to avoid the inconvenience of getting deactivated," Bantugan added.
After BISU-Tagbilaran, Audio plans to hold the info drive in other campuses and schools.
Audio is composed of information officers from municipalities and government agencies.
Bantugan said they could help to promote responsible use of SIM cards, educate their stakeholders on the benefits of mandatory SIM card registration and guide them through the whole registration process.
Invited speakers were lawyer Alan Felix Macaraya, Jr., legal officer of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); Victor Magallanes, provincial officer of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Tiarra Cabilla, Smart Communication's Stakeholder Management Officer-Visayas; and Jose Luis Varquez, Globe Telecom’s Channel Transportation Strategy Development manager.
Macaraya explained Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Card Registration and its importance in fighting text and online scams which are becoming more prevalent in recent years.
Varquez urged their customers to take the opportunity of registering their pre-paid SIM cards now to avoid a surge in the system when the deadline comes.
Aldrin Avergonzado, Globe Telecom’s Consumer Business Development Expert, shared that Globe customers can now register their SIMs through the GlobeOne app, another convenient and accessible option to comply with the SIM Registration Act.
By making SIM registration available on the app, Globe hopes to expand reach to its subscribers and finish registration of roughly 86.7 million SIM users under the Globe network by the deadline.
Under the law, all existing SIM card users must register their number to their name by submitting requirements — personal details, identification cards, business names, and other information — on a website provided by the telecommunication company that provided the SIM Card.
All prepaid subscribers in three telcos — Globe, Smart, and Dito —have until April 26, 2023 as deadline for registration.
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