Uber in Cebu: Cash payments are now acceptable!

Uber has announced that cash payments will now be available to all Cebu riders, starting today, Friday, July 8, and making Cebu the first city in the Philippines to offer the convenience of cash payments to all riders.

Launched in Cebu last December 2015, Uber provides transportation across the most populated areas in Metro Cebu. In a dropoff heatmap provided by Uber, an increasing number of Cebuano riders use Uber to reach their destinations including transportation hubs like the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, shopping destinations like SM City Cebu and Ayala Center Cebu, and tourist attractions like Magellan’s Cross, Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño, and Fort San Pedro. Also in December of last year, the company began testing cash payments in Cebu to a limited group of test riders and drivers to better understand local payment preferences.

Uber Philippines General Manager Laurence Cua is confident that with the complete roll out of the cash payment option for all Uber riders, more Cebuanos will consider using Uber rather than driving their own vehicle. “We know that more and more riders in Cebu are choosing Uber because of its safe, affordable, and convenient rides. We hope the introduction of new payment options, like cash, will give riders more choices to enjoy and pay for their Uber rides.”

According to Cua, Cebu is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the country and he believes that the company can provide Cebuanos with an alternative transportation option that is convenient, comfortable and safe through uberX. It is now the primary service available to the Cebuano riding public and is known as the low-cost service of Uber and it can accommodate up to four passengers per trip.

Here’s how you can use cash for your ride:

 

 

1. Choose the uberX option in the app. Before requesting a ride, change your payment option to cash on the confirmation page. The payment bar is located at the lower half of your screen. Enter your destination and request a ride.

2. You’ll see your driver’s details straight away–name, photo and the details of the car. These drivers have professional driving licenses and have undergone an extensive screening process.

3. At the end of your trip, the app will reflect the fare that you need to pay. Hand your payment to your driver and you’ll receive an electronic receipt via email.

uberHOP expands pickup points to Quezon City during rush hour

MANILA, Philippines — Uber, the world’s leading ridesharing application, introduces new routes for its uberHOP service to serve commuters in Quezon City that promises to help commuters save time while ensuring that their trip is safe and comfortable.

uberHOP, launched in the country in January 2016, is an option that enables multiple people heading in the same direction to share a ride during peak hours. Its goal is to reduce traffic congestion and improve urban mobility, by putting more people in fewer cars.

Riders who travel between QC to Makati or Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig can now commute conveniently and affordably by booking an uberHOP ride with just a few taps on their smartphones.

uberHOP will pick up passengers from TriNoma Mall in Quezon City and drop them off at Tower One, Ayala Avenue in Makati or Net Quad in 31st Street, BGC. A one way fare will cost P120 to both destinations and a vehicle will be available on-demand. To book an uberHOP, simply open the Uber app and choose the uberHOP option. From there, select from predetermined routes indicated in the app and head to the nearest pickup location.

According to Laurence Cua, Uber Philippines General Manager, the trips from TriNoma to the central business districts of Makati and BGC are intentionally scheduled during the peak traffic hours of 6:30AM to 8:30AM, when demand for transportation is greatest. “We’re taking steps to make sure that commuters get reliable and convenient rides every morning and uberHOP has been very well received by the people of Metro Manila, with many asking for more routes. So after our recent addition of  routes in Ortigas, we are excited to bring uberHOP to the commuters of Quezon City.”

Manila is only the third city in the world where uberHOP has been introduced, following Seattle, Washington and Toronto, Canada. Here’s how uberHOP works:

Here are the updated uberHOP routes all over Metro Manila:

AM (6:30AM to 8:30AM)
● TriNoma Mall, Quezon City to Ayala Triangle, Makati
● TriNoma Mall, Quezon City to Net Quad, BGC

AM (7AM to 10AM)
● The Columns, Makati to Net Quad, BGC
● Legazpi Street, Makati to Net Quad, BGC
● SM Light Residences to Ayala Triangle, Makati
● SM Light Residences to Net Quad, Makati
● South of Market to Ayala Triangle, Makati
● Legazpi Street, Makati to Discovery Suites, Ortigas
● South of Market, BGC to Discovery Suites, Ortigas

PM (5PM to 9PM)
● Legazpi Street, Makati to SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
● Legazpi Street, Makati to Bonifacio High Street, BGC
● Net Quad, BGC to Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong
● Net Quad, BGC to The Landmark, Makati
● Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong to The Landmark, Makati
● Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong to Bonifacio High Street, BGC

To celebrate the introduction of these new routes, Uber will give five lucky riders a week’s worth of FREE uberHOP rides if they share the image announcing the TriNoma route found on facebook.com/uberpilipinas using the official hashtags #WhyWeUber and #HOPon. The winners of the contest will be announced on May 2.

Visit t.uber.com/hopmnlfaqs for more information about uberHOP routes. To know more about Uber and uberHOP, please visit http://t.uber.com/hopQC

Practo partners with Uber in bringing first class healthcare services worldwide

Going to the hospital or a doctor’s visit nowadays may bring stress and anxiety due to transportation or looking for a parking. Emergencies might also be stressful as traffic blocks your way. Remember, life is a matter of seconds. Good thing, technology makes our lives easier. With just one click, you can save your life or the lives of your loved ones through these following apps:

Practo, Asia’s largest healthcare booking platform, and Uber, the world’s leading ride-hailing technology platform have announced a global partnership that will make it easier for consumers to reach doctors.

Starting November 16, 2015, Practo users across Philippines, Indonesia, India and Singapore who book an appointment on Practo’s award-winning app will be able to see the closest Uber available when they get a reminder alert for their appointments. Users can then click the reminder notification and complete the booking process. New users who book their first appointment on the Practo app can use the promotion code: UBERPRACTOMNL to avail two free rides, up to PHP 300 per ride, with Uber. This offer is valid till December 31, 2015.

In addition to viewing the estimated fare and how long it will take for the Uber to arrive, the driver’s app will be prefilled with the final destination’s address at the very beginning of the trip. On requesting an Uber, the user’s final destination will be autofilled on the driver’s app once the trip starts, making the entire experience seamless. The next phase of integration will involve notifying the user to request for an Uber, an hour prior to the appointment.

“We work relentlessly towards providing a simplified healthcare experience that reduces consumer stress and anxiety at every level. We realized that transportation issues often bring additional stress to a doctor’s visit – having to drive through traffic, then hunt for parking – all while you or your loved one is sitting in the car feeling ill is a terrible experience. There are also many patients who may not be able to drive themselves to a doctor at all. Our goal with this partnership is to completely remove this anxiety by integrating with Uber’s incredible experience and bringing that to our consumers.” said Shashank ND, Founder & CEO, Practo

The partnership today is in four markets – India, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore and will soon expand to cover more countries as Practo and Uber continue their global expansion at a rapid pace.

“At Uber, our mission is to bring safe, convenient and reliable rides at the push of a button to everyone, everywhere. We are delighted to partner with Practo to provide people with convenient access to quality healthcare services. The technology integration through this partnership reflects our common commitment to create seamless experience for all our users,” said Mike Brown, Regional General Manager, Southeast Asia and Australia, New Zealand.

You may download the Practo app and Uber app at Google Play Store and Apple App Store.