Converge ICT Inks Partnership with Pay & Go for Easier Payment Schemes

Manila, Philippines – As Converge ICT further ensures of a more convenient customer journey, the leading fiber internet and data solutions company aims to innovate their services and make it more accessible.

Thanks to a new partnership with leading self-service payment kiosk operator BTI Payments, Converge ICT’s customers can pay their bills in more than 500 self-service Pay & Go payment kiosks, with a number of them operating 24/7. For customers, this means more locations for paying bills, shorter queues, and an enhanced customer experience.

Since launching the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, Converge ICT has been offering Filipino consumers a speedier and more reliable internet connection. Last year, Converge ICT rolled out the country’s first 400Gbps backbone to augment existing domestic network capacity. As an extension of the company’s mantra to optimize customer experience, Converge ICT partnered with BTI. This endeavor intends to deliver an improved end-to-end customer experience that goes all the way to bills payment.

Innovative customer-centric programs as such has enabled Converge ICT to grow its base and allow more Filipinos to enjoy premium fiber internet experience. And for efforts such as this, the fiber internet organization has been cited by London-based International Finance Awards Group as the “Fastest Growing Fiber Internet Service Provider in the Philippines.”

“Converge ICT is about giving Filipino consumers the kind of connectivity that is simple, fast, and easy. As we grow our presence in the Philippines, we are turning to credible and capable partners who will help us deliver the kind of customer experience we promise. In terms of bills payment, Pay & Go has the expertise and nationwide presence that complement our goal of delivering that seamless experience,” said Dennis “J3” Uy, Converge ICT President & CEO.

“Our growing portfolio of kiosks is located nationwide and will be in more places relevant and synonymous to where paying customers are at. We want to seamlessly integrate it into their fast-paced lifestyles, making payments without a hassle – whether you are in the office, supermarket, pharmacy, mall or at home. As our service is real time, anytime – we ensure Converge transactions through Pay & Go will be no different from doing it at their stores or business offices,” said BTI Payments Country Head Dan Ibarra.

“We aim to support the growing Philippine market with decades of experience in payments solutions. We are looking forward to collaborate with Converge and BTI Payments PH to enhance processes that will provide better customer service,” said Peter Blackett General Manager, Strategic Development & Asia of BANKTECH, and Director of BTI Payments Philippines.

BTI payments is a wholly owned subsidiary of BANKTECH, a top provider of ATM and payment technology in Australia and Asia for the past 25 years.

About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.

About BTI Payments

BTI Payments is a leading self-service payments kiosk certified by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. With its expertise in delivering innovative solutions to the market, it enables financial institutions, telecommunication companies, utilities, and merchants more access points in serving their respective markets.

Kids Enjoy Action-Packed Playtimes with Jolly Speed Racers

Get those racing gears ready this February as Jollibee rolls out the latest set of Jolly Kiddie Meal toys – the Jolly Speed Racers! With this new set of collectible toys, young racers can spend action-packed playtimes and feel the adrenaline rush of driving as they hit the racetracks with Jollibee and Friends.

Jolly kids can help set-up Jollibee and friends’ special cars by placing their stickers to prepare them for the race. At the starting line, they can connect all the launchers and get ready to rev up for a race of a lifetime! Just retract the cars in the launchers and press the button to watch the cars zoom to life!

Jolly kids can enjoy racing to the finish line with Jollibee’s dashing speed racer. They can even race with Popo’s cool sport ride or Yum’s techie four-wheel car as they challenge Jollibee for first place. Watch out for Hetty’s pink and Twirlie’s purple sports cars as they accelerate past everyone in their attempt to win the race!

To experience the rush of the jolliest race this February, make sure to collect all five Jolly Speed Racers to connect all their launchers!

Collect the Jolly Kiddie Meal toys with every purchase of a Yumburger (P80), Yumburger Meal with Drink (P100), Jolly Spaghetti (P95), Jolly Spaghetti Meal with Drink (P105), 1-piece Burger Steak (P95), 1-piece Burger Steak Meal with Drink (P105), 1-piece Chickenjoy with rice (P122), or 1-piece Chickenjoy Meal with Drink (P137), each coming with its own Jolly Joy Box.

Let your jolly racers have endless fun as they race toward the finish line! Collect all Jolly Speed Racers by visiting the Jollibee branch nearest you! The latest Jolly Kiddie Meal toys are available until February 29, 2020 only.

DTI Suspends PS Licenses of Six Steel Manufacturers

Contrary to the recent statement made by a product standards and quality group that government has failed to take action against retailers and manufacturers of substandard steel, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) suspended the Philippine Standard (PS) licenses of six (6) steel manufacturers in 2019 for failing the independent testing commissioned by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).

These steel manufacturers include Maxima Steel Mills Corp., Henro Steel Corp., Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. – Meycauayan Bulacan Plant, Cathay Metal Corp., Somico Steel Mill Corporation, and Sagarthama Steel Trading Corporation.

1) Maxima Steel Mills Corp. - Deformed Steel Bar and Equal Leg Angle Bar

2) Henro Steel Corp. - Rerolled Steel Bar

3) Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. - Meycauayan Bulacan Plant - Deformed Steel Bar

4) Cathay Metal Corp. - Equal Leg Angle Bar

5) Somico Steel Mill Corporation - Rerolled Steel Bar

6) Sagarthama Steel Trading Corporation - Deformed Steel Bar

The suspension order resulted from unannounced surveillance audits conducted by the BPS in 2019 on various steel manufacturing plants in the country. Samples culled from these audits that were subjected to testing by the MIRDC proved that these six steel manufacturers were not compliant with the standards indicated in Philippine National Standard (PNS) 49, Series of 2002. Until these steel manufacturers comply with the PNS, their PS licenses will remain suspended.

In addition to this, the BPS denied the issuance of Import Commodity Clearances (ICC) for deformed steel bars and equal leg angle bars imported by Megawide Construction Corporation, Petron Corporation, and Remington Industrial Sales Corporation, approximately valued at over sixty-eight million pesos (P68,000,000).

The deformed steel bars imported by Megawide Construction Corporation were denied issuance of ICC due to non-compliance with PNS 49:2002 while those imported by Petron Corporation had no proper markings. Remington Industrial Sales Corporation, on the other hand, has no valid PS license for the importation of equal leg angle bars. All these imported steel bars were either destroyed or exported to their country of origin.

It can also be recalled that in September 2019, Wan Chiong Steel Corp. was found to be manufacturing deformed steel bars that are not covered by the scope of their PS license. After due process and filing of formal charge, the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) issued a decision last November 2019 for said steel manufacturing company to pay administrative penalty amounting to P450,000.00. Earlier, the same steel manufacturer was suspended for five (5) months for non-compliance with PNS 49.

Similarly, Dragon Asia Rolling Mills was also found to be manufacturing steel that are not covered by the scope of their PS license. Formal charge against the company has been filed by the FTEB and the case is now up for decision.

“For the whole of 2019, the DTI penalized a total of 42 retailers and manufacturers of steel — a clear contrast to the claim of a product safety and quality group that the Department failed to charge violating steel manufacturers and traders for substandard steel products. The DTI stops at nothing in tracking down unscrupulous businesses and ensuring that violators are dealt with to the highest and fullest extent of the law. The protection of consumers is our utmost priority and we remain steadfast in our commitment,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Since the beginning of President RodrigoDuterte’s  administration, the DTI has intensified its surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement efforts on all products and services that are under its jurisdiction, especially those included in the mandatory product certification list such as steel.

In conjunction with this effort, the DTI advises the public to remain vigilant when purchasing products, including steel and other construction materials. Always look for the PS or ICC mark to be assured of quality and safety.

For the complete list of products that should bear the PS and ICC marks, please visit the BPS portal at www.bps.gov.ph. To report establishments selling uncertified and non-conforming products, please call the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline or send an email to consumercare@dti.gov.ph.