Google expanded its Google Station free public WiFi to over 400 locations in the Philippines to include airports, seaports, and other transport hubs from 50 sites in February.

Google Station allows users to connect for 30-minute sessions for unlimited times per day. To connect, users simply need to switch the WiFi on from their device and select SSID “Free Google Station: Smart WiFi.”

You can enjoy free WiFi through Google Station at the following locations:

AIRPORTS

1. Bacolod-Silay International (BCD)
2. Clark International (CRK)
3. Daniel Z Romualdez (Tacloban) (TAC)
4. Dipolog (DPL)
5. Francisco Bangoy International (Davao) (DVO)
6. General Santos International (GES)
7. Godofredo P. Ramos (Caticlan/Boracay) (MPH)
8. Iloilo International (ILO)
9. Kalibo International (KLO)
10. Laguindingan International (CGY)
11. Laoag International (LAO)
12. Legazpi (LGP)
13. Ninoy Aquino International (Manila) (MNL) – Terminal 1
14. Ninoy Aquino International (Manila) (MNL) – Terminal 2
15. Ninoy Aquino International (Manila) (MNL) – Terminal 3
16. Ninoy Aquino International (Manila) (MNL) – Terminal 4
17. Puerto Princesa International (PPS)
18. Roxas (RXS)
19. Zamboanga International (ZAM)

SEAPORTS

1. Bacolod
2. Batangas
3. Calapan
4. Caticlan
5. Cebu – Pier 1
6. Dapitan
7. Dumaguete
8. Mae Wess (Sasa Wharf)
9. Ormoc
10. Ozamiz
11. Puerto Princesa
12. Sibulan
13. Tagbilaran
14. Zamboanga

BUS TERMINALS

1. Araneta Bus Port
2. Bacolod South Bus Terminal
3. Baler Central Terminal
4. Cebu North Bus Terminal
5. Cebu South Bus Terminal
6. Dao Integrated Bus Terminal
7. DLTB Bus Co. (Cubao EDSA, Lucena, Malibay EDSA, Taft LRT, Tramo EDSA, Turbina)
8. Partas Bus Liner (Baguio, Cubao, Laoag, Vigan)
9. South Bus Station Alabang
10. Tacloban Integrated Bus Terminal

TRAIN STATIONS

1. LRT2 (Santolan, Katipunan, Anonas, Araneta Center – Cubao, Betty Go-Belmonte, Gilmore, J. Ruiz, V. Mapa, Pureza, Legarda, Recto)
2. MRT3 (North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, GMA Kamuning, Araneta Center – Cubao, Santolan-Annapolis, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Boni, Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala, Magallanes, Taft Avenue)

Google Station is in partnership with Smart Communications. To learn more and view all locations, visit Google Station at https://station.google.com/ or Smart WiFi at https://smart.com.ph/Pages/smart-wifi.

The Singaporean passport is the most powerful in Southeast Asia (and the world) ranking first in the 2019 Henley Passport Index in its third-quarter update with visa-free access to 189 out of 226 travel destinations.

Malaysia and Brunei follow at second and third with 176 and 164 visa-free destinations respectively. Meanwhile, Myanmar is the least powerful with 46 after Laos and Vietnam with 49 each.

Completing the list are Thailand with visa-free access to 74 countries, Indonesia with 69, the Philippines with 64, and Cambodia with 51.

The Philippines

The Philippine passport drops to 80th spot in the global ranking from 75th in 2018.

Currently, Philippine passport holders can travel to 64 destinations with visa-free access. Of these, 34 are visa-free entry, and the rest are on visa-on-arrival.

Visa-Free Destinations:

Visa On Arrival Destinations:

The Henley Passport Index counts how many countries a passport holder can visit without a prior visa. The report is based on exclusive data from IATA or the International Air Transport Association, which maintains the largest and most accurate database of travel information.

NOTE:
Information on this page may change without prior notice. Please check with the respective embassy, consulate, or foreign mission for latest info.

Filipinos can continue to enjoy visa-free travel for 14 days to Taiwan until July 31, 2020.

Taipei, in a July 2 statement by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, announced that the “visa-free privilege for the nationals of the Philippines will continue for another year.”

Filipinos traveling to Taiwan do not need to secure a visa or a “Travel Authorization Certificate” or an e-visa prior to travel date. However, visitors must comply with the following conditions:

1. Possess a regular passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months from date of entry;
2. Hold a confirmed return ticket or a confirmed ticket with a valid visa for an onward destination;
3. Provide confirmed hotel reservations or an address and contact details for their stay, as well as a financial statement; and
4. Have a clean criminal record as verified by immigration upon arrival in Taiwan.

The 14-day visa-free is non-extendable and begins on the following day of arrival.

The visa-free travel for Filipinos started on November 1, 2017 in a 9-month trial. Since then, Filipino arrivals in Taiwan increased by more than 120,000 in 2018 from 2017.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) opens 28 new Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Service routes under Memorandum Circular 2019-010 released this month.

New routes (and special stops) include:

• Baguio – Baguio City
• Batangas – Batangas City and Lipa
• Bulacan – Angat, Balagtas, Bocaue, Calumpit, Philippine Arena, Pandi and Philippine Arena
• Caticlan
• Cebu – Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Sibonga, Talisay
• Clark
• La Union
• Laguna – Calamba
• Kalibo – Kalibo International Airport (KLO)
• Iloilo – Iloilo City and Iloilo International Airport (ILO)

Under the circular, the new routes are distributed into 16 franchise packages with each package being awarded to one applicant. All selected operators will be required to operate an interim service under a special permit using its own or leased units.

Here are the packages with their respective routes, approximate distance, and expected one-way fare:

Package 1

• Angat, Bulacan – North EDSA, Quezon City
  59.5 KM, 19 units, ₱240.00
• Angat, Bulacan – Lawton, Manila
  Special Stop: Tutuban, Manila
  62 KM, 19 units, ₱248.00

Package 2

• Balagtas, Bulacan – North EDSA, Quezon City
  30 KM, 15 units, ₱120.00
• Pandi, Bulacan – North EDSA, Quezon City
  Special Stop: Baita, Bocaue
  43.3 KM, 15 units, ₱175.00
• Plaridel, Bulacan – North EDSA, Quezon City
  42.7 KM, 15 units, ₱170.00

Package 3

• Calamba, Laguna – Makati
  Special Stop: Cabuyao, Laguna
  54.5 KM, 15 units, ₱220.00
• Calamba, Laguna – BGC / Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
  Special Stop: Cabuyao, Laguna
  55.2 KM, 15 units, ₱220.00
• Calamba, Laguna – Lawton, Manila
  Special Stop: Cabuyao, Laguna
  60.4 KM, 16 units, ₱240.00

Package 4

• NAIA / Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) – Baguio
  269 KM, 48 units, ₱1,080.00

Package 5

• Clark – Baguio
  176 KM, 30 units, ₱700.00

Package 6

• Cebu City – Lapu-Lapu City
  Special Stop: Mandaue City
  20.5 KM, 20 units, ₱80.00

Package 7

• Cebu City – Danao City
  Special Stops: Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela
  78.8 KM, 45 units, ₱315.00

Package 8

• Cebu City – Sibonga
  Special Stops: Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar
  75.1 KM, 45 units, ₱300.00

Package 9

• Iloilo City – Iloilo International Airport (ILO)
  20.2 KM, 15 units, ₱80.00

Package 10

• Iloilo City – Caticlan
  229 KM, 50 units, ₱920.00

Package 11

• Iloilo City – Kalibo International Airport (KLO)
  180 KM, 45 units, ₱720.00

Package 12

• Philippine Arena – Clark
  75.8 KM, 15 units, ₱300.00
• Philippine Arena – Calumpit, Bulacan
  Special Stop: Bocaue
  24.7 KM, 15 units, ₱110.00
• Philippine Arena – La Union
  244 KM, 36 units, ₱980.00
• Philippine Arena – Central, Quezon City
  24.7 KM, 20 units, ₱100.00

Package 13

• Batangas City – Alabang
  80 KM, 19 units, ₱320.00
• Batangas City – Lawton, Manila
  Special Stop: Buendia
  104 KM, 40 units, ₱420.00

Package 14

• Batangas City – Ortigas
  103 KM, 21 units, ₱410.00
• Batangas City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX)
  100 KM, 27 units, ₱400.00

Package 15

• Lipa, Batangas – Alabang
  62 KM, 20 units, ₱250.00
• Lipa, Batangas – Lawton, Manila
  Special Stop: Buendia
  86 KM, 35 units, ₱340.00

Package 16

• Lipa, Batangas – Ortigas
  84 KM, 35 units, ₱340.00
• Lipa, Batangas – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
  82 KM, 25 units, ₱330.00

From honesty stores, to honesty cafes, now comes an honesty bus.

G-Liner Bus Company starts today, July 28 a trial of an honesty pay system in one of their buses plying the Taytay – Quiapo route.

Under this system, passengers are requested to honestly place exact fare payments inside the fare box thus eliminating the need for a conductor. A fare matrix indicating the standard rate per destination is also provided.

[Photo: G.Liner Bus Company Facebook page]