00:00 Commuters can now tap their debit or credit cards when they ride the MRT 3 and select buses.
00:06 In the meantime, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PEZA approves 12 projects in January.
00:12 These and more stories in tonight's Business News Wrap-Up by Charissa Esparrago.
00:17 Filipinos with MasterCard credit and/or debit cards will soon be able to ride the Metro Rail Transit Line or MRT 3
00:28 without buying a single journey ticket.
00:30 AF Payments Inc., which is in charge of the BEEP cards for MRT 3,
00:35 has entered into a partnership with MasterCard to allow commuters to use debit and credit cards
00:41 to pay their MRT 3 and bus fares in Metro Manila.
00:45 According to BEEP President and CEO Jonathan Juan Moreno,
00:49 this is expected to benefit millions of Filipino commuters by enhancing smart mobility in transit systems.
00:58 The Philippine Identification or PhilID National ID cards can now be more easily verified
01:05 through the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA's PhilSysCheck.
01:10 The program is accessible in computers, laptops, and smartphones
01:14 with an internet connection via the website verify.philsys.gov.ph.
01:22 According to the PSA, this will serve as a crucial deterrent against fraudulent activities.
01:28 The Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PESA announced it has approved
01:33 2.21 billion pesos worth of investments and has generated 69.62 million dollars in exports
01:42 in the very first month of the year.
01:44 These investments have already resulted in the creation of 1,337 direct jobs
01:50 from 12 new and expanded projects.
01:53 PESA Director General Terezo Panga states the agency seeks to reach 250 billion pesos
01:59 in investment approvals by the end of 2024.
02:03 The Department of Finance or DOF gets credited by the Social Security System or SSS
02:09 for the success of the Workers' Investment and Savings Program or WISP.
02:13 As of December 31, 2023, WISP contributions amounted to around 79 billion pesos
02:20 from 6.02 million members.
02:22 Meanwhile, WISP Plus contributions amounted to roughly 391 million pesos
02:27 from 30,536 members.
02:30 According to the DOF, this safe, convenient, and tax-free individual retirement savings plan
02:37 allows members to invest and earn returns from their contributions,
02:41 embodying the core principle of work, save, invest, and prosper.
02:47 Chariza Asparago for The Nation.
