NU6 ALT STR Regis

VARIABLE INSURANCE PREMIUM Insurance premiums in the Philippines are calculated by certain percentages and are common/fixed regardless of the profile of the entity being insured. In other countries like the U.S., individuals are assessed based on their risk levels ( first time availer pays higher premium than that of a person with previous availments and without accidents/claims). It will be valuable if same principle can be applied here in the Philippines because you will be rewarding those people who operates safely (i.e. vehicle owners, factories, etc.) and at the same time penalizing those who are not. This can be economically viable and at the same time promotes safety, health and environmental awareness to the society. 3

NU6 ALT, Str Reg

E-pass and Customer Service at SLEX Going to work, I always passed by the SLEX. I am also an e-pass user which is under our company account. Last quarter of 2011, I have experienced unexpected queues in the e-pass lane, which is supposed to be not happening. This is because of the on-going testing by MATES (organization handling SLEX operations) on the e-pass readers. During these periods, there were frequent times when the reader can't sense the e-pass and the teller will then have to input the account number when this happens. I myself was not happy because the e-pass lane beats the purpose of convenience and faster way to pass through toll booths. I've read from the newspaper that SLEX is now looking into this situation and they are really experiencing technical problems with these readers. Their Malaysian 3rd party programmers are fixing the situation. The above experience is just one. As of the moment, I haven't yet experienced the same; maybe the test had gone ok. But there are still those who pissed me in the e-pass lane: those motorists who have low-balances and yet they are still passing through the e-pass lane. It is okay if this would be the first time for the motorist to know that his balance is low but there are those who still pass by the lane without re-charging their tags. I happen to know this from a friend because he says that toll booth personnel will still let you pass but it creates delay because the toll booth operator near the e-pass lane will have to come out from his booth and press something at the keyboard to acknowledge the e-pass with low balance. What happens is that once the tag was re-loaded, all those fees that were transacted during the low balance or zero balance will be deducted from the amount re-loaded on the tag. I just hoped that SLEX management should improve this way of handling low and zero balance tags so that it does not become a routine for them and create inconvenience to fellow motorists. Another improvement that I want to suggest is that the e-pass lane should also reflect the actual amount of toll fee when approaching a particular exit. In current situation, a "thank you" message appears when you pass by an e-pass lane. What if the reader was somehow defective and overcharged the motorist in that particular exit? This situation is not far from happening because machines are bound to fail or to make errors no matter how careful we are in maintaining these. This is one way of assuring consumers/motorists like that the appropriate amount is being charge, especially in my case in which I can report to our Logistics group should there be cases of overcharging. I can't help but compare the customer service level between SLEX and NLEX. I have this one experience in NLEX wherein I got a flat tire when I was in Sta. Rita. I never saved that NLEX hotline number in my phone but because of its visibility in the expressway, I was able to memorize it and used to call it so that they can help me with my flat tire. The toll personnel were fast in responding, in less than 10 minutes, they were already starting to replace my flat tire. What is more delighting is that they also suggested a nearby vulcanizing shop and assisted me to get there. Knowing that I'm ready to go, I offered them 2 bags of breads but they declined. What they asked me is to email my feedback of their service to the address that they gave me. That's really superior customer service!!! There were also available telephone booths in case our cellphones had run out of batteries. In SLEX, I don't see it the way NLEX is doing things. I can't judge yet on how fast they could attend to motorists with flat tires because I haven't experience it there yet but what I noticed is there are no phone booths the same as those in NLEX. Hotline numbers are also not that visible. I see a hotline number but it is a cellphone line and very difficult to memorize. I think SLEX should also stick with a 4-digit hotline number. Of course in terms of the kilometer length between NLEX and SLEX, the phone booths and hotline numbers are still important to be installed in the SLEX, given the short distance say from Alabang to Calamba. Emergencies will happen and these are not anticipated. It is important that every expressway, no matter how long or short the travel distance, should have these basic emergency provisions. 3.5

NU 6 ALT STR

Professor, Facility, Classroom and Site Coordinators Assessment in AGSB Satellite Schools   Same as on trainings conducted (in-house or external), an end of training or end of course assessment is also given to Professors/facilitators of AGSB. I view this not just a piece of paper but a way for AGSB management to gauge whether they are providing excellent academe services. In one satellite school that I am enrolled since 2010, I noticed that there are times when the site coordinator is not consistent in getting the student's assessment of the subject and the Professor. As I mentioned, this assessment should be viewed as an important input in order for AGSB to improve its services to students. Of course nobody is perfect as the saying goes. But with AGSB as an academic institution, I could not get the idea that there are some basic services that are not properly carried out. A simple stock monitoring will address the issue of out-of-stock board markers, internet connection that is always down, unrepaired power outlets and unreplaced busted lights in the classroom. To address these facility concerns, the end of course/subject assessment should include facility, classroom and office evaluation, including the site coordinators. It is not only the effectiveness of the Professors in the course that is solely evaluated but the support services as well. There is no doubt that AGSB really provides quality education but maintaining the quality of service and facility of satellite schools should also be aligned with AGSB's reputation. To address the compliance of students in assessing the revised end of course/subject assessment, AGSB could do this on-line. The AGSB site administrator can post the assessment on each student's page and the student will answer the assessment online. To ensure compliance, the student may not be able to register and enroll on the next subject until he was able to complete the assessment. AGSB should also program the results generation automatically so there is no need to tally and compute the results manually. Aside from strictly imposing to students to answer the assessment, there could be savings in terms of paper and the students are given ample time to evaluate their Professors, the facility, classroom, office and site coordinators. Sometimes, the last session is also hectic and low priority is being given by students in answering the assessment. Or if they may answer, the AGSB might not be getting the true assessment, which becomes an input to gauging customer/student satisfaction. 4

NU6 by ALT Disposable Toilet Seats, STR Regis

The Ateneo Graduate School of Business Advantage The Missing Toilet Seats Another thing that pisses me off in public CRs especially in malls are the missing toilet seats. I believe that these are intentionally removed so that it requires no maintenance. But for me who's very conscious on the various diseases that one can harbor in using public toilets, it is essential that these toilet seats, together with cleaned and sanitized CR facilities should be strictly implemented. But somehow, we can't blame the owners of these facilities because most of the reasons for the missing toilet seats are due to improper use. Instead of replacing the damaged seats, it is much better to leave it that way. Most of public CRs have vending machines where one can buy tissue and sanitary napkins. I happen to know from this one famous young actress that she always brought with her a disposable toilet seat cover that is shaped the same as that of a toilet seat. The material is the almost the same as a tissue paper but thicker. It also has antibacterial properties. There are manufacturers of this disposable toilet seats. What is probably lacking is that these should be distributed in areas accessible to the user such as public CRs. Using disposable toilet seats minimizes the incident of hands having direct contact with the rim of the toilet bowl. Wiping tissue paper or wet ones increases the probability of contracting diseases. Though the best way is still proper hand washing and sanitizing after CR breaks, whether with or without toilet seats. 4

NU6 by ALT, Waterproofing Barcodes of Fresh Produce, STR Reg

The Unreadable Barcode Nowadays, mall supermarkets are very competitive when it comes to their fresh section. Gone are the days when meat, fish, poultry and vegetables are not as fresh as their ordinary public wet market counterparts. Prices at the supermarkets and supermarket malls are now almost the same as outside especially if the brands they carry are their own house brands. I am one of those who benefit from the convenience of shopping for fresh items in an air-conditioned and clean area, and could dine and recreate with my family after. But there is this one thing that pisses me off when buying fresh produce in the supermarket malls: the unreadable barcode!!! I am a busy person and time is very important. Fast and agile service is what I always look for in a particular establishment.  In supermarket malls, fresh produced are either pre-weighed or you can choose and have it weighed by the crews there. A barcode is placed on each weighed product bearing the price/kg, actual weight and actual price. When already at the counter to have my items calculated, most of the barcodes that are not readable by the scanner came from the fresh produce. The cashier will then input the barcode numbers one by one and this is of course slows down the calculating process. I've noticed that the missed readings are rampant on wet items such as fresh meat (poultry, pork, beef and fish). There are also noted missed barcode readings in vegetables, though not that wet compared to meat, but still moisture from the vegetables is affecting the barcode reading efficiency. To address this issue, the paper used for printing barcode stickers should be waterproof. I believe this is the one that is causing the missed readings. Paper companies may develop a smudge free and waterproof paper for barcode stickers.3