Green Purse Bonus aims to aid Lasallian spending

The University Student Government’s (USG) Office of the Treasurer (OTREAS) launched the Green Purse BONUS (GPB), a yearlong activity wherein Lasallians can avail of discounts and privileges from different partner establishments. From restaurants, special interest merchants, to outdoor and leisure shops, Lasallians could extend the value of their money just by presenting their school IDs at partner establishments.

USG Treasurer Rupert Laurel explains that the GPB is part of his office’s long-term plan that includes offering services and programs that will moderate and eventually ease out the daily expenses of Lasallians.

30 merchants and counting

OTREAS Executive Chairperson for External Affairs Dhia Chua explains that the team behind GPB researched on establishments Lasallians would most likely patronize. He highlights that the main consideration of selecting the merchants included in the GPB is whether the products and services products offered are aligned with the interests and needs of students.

There are over thirty GPB partner establishments offering discounts and exclusive privileges to students. Restaurants such as The Aristocrat, Krispy Kreme, Tony Roma’s, IHOP, Aracama, Starr’s, Manang’s, Karate Kid, and Sbarro, among others, offer students discounts on their products. Clothing stores like Bayo and Tomato also extend the same privilege, while Hyve offers free entrance to Lasallians.

Merchant branches that offer discounts and privileges are not limited along Taft Avenue and the city of Manila. GPB benefits are also offered in merchant branches located in Katipunan, Makati, and in shopping malls like SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Glorietta, and Trinoma.

Tabitha Peliño (II, AB-OSDM) shares that since she frequents restaurants like The Aristocrat, as well as GPB partner stores located in SM Megamall, she will be able to enjoy the benefits of the project.

Chua informs that the GPB team will continue to contact possible partner establishments in the upcoming months. OTREAS’ Marketing and Liaisons Team will be in charge of expanding the list of partner establishments according to Laurel.

Opportunities maximized

The GPB is different from Green Purse, an electronic cashless payment option available to Lasallians. Undergraduate and graduate students could use their IDs in paying for services availed in the library, Accounting Office, Office of the University Registrar, and Information Technology Services Office. For as long as students have credit load in their Green Purse accounts, they could use the cashless payment option.

Although the GPB and Green Purse use the school ID as principal proof of enrollment, OTREAS Chairperson for Marketing Mary Ann Sy clarifies that the GPB only offers discounts and exclusive deals to Lasallians. “Green Purse credit cannot be used in GPB partner establishments, actual money will be used to pay for products and services instead,” Sy confirms.

Most of the students are not yet aware of this project or have only heard of it recently, but they plan on using this opportunity given to them since they frequently patronize partner stores.

“I can avail of the Green Purse BONUS by always eating or buying products at my favorite stores like Krispy Kreme, Aristocrat, IHOP, Ministop, Karate Kid and a lot more. It won’t just satisfy my cravings, but it will be able to avail them at a more affordable price,” says Janna Salvacion (II, AB-OSDM). She also mentions that GPB is very beneficial for the students of DLSU.

Julienne Magdaraog (II, BS-BIO) mentions that it would be a waste if this privilege would not be used, and she will use it mostly for the food, especially the ones that are situated near or within the campus.

Chua informs that partner establishments will offer the privileges to Lasallians with ID numbers 110 to 114. “ For those enrolled students with ID numbers lower than 110, they could present their EAFs together with theirs IDs when availing of the discounts and other GPB perks…this is to minimize (transactional) conflicts, if any,” Chua adds.

The GPB program will run from August 1, 2014 to May 1, 2015. For the complete list of partner establishments, Lasallians could visit the Green Purse BONUS Facebook page.

With reports from Carina Cruz