PLDT collaborating with Araneta Center BusPort for cashless payment scheme

MANILA, Philippines — The digital financial arm of PLDT Inc. is collaborating with transport hub Araneta Center BusPort to allow commuters to make cashless payments.

PayMaya Philippines Inc. said commuters could now book, reserve seats, and pay for tickets online by going to the Araneta Center BusPort website www.aranetacenterbusport.com under the partnership. 

By booking online, commuters are assured of a seat even before they arrive at the bus terminal.

Aside from booking and paying online, commuters can also pay by using their Visa, Mastercard, or JCB cards or by using their mobile phones through the PayMaya QR (Quick Response) code at the terminal, PayMaya said in a statement.

Through the partnership, passengers who ride the buses from the Araneta Center BusPort are expected to have a more convenient travel experience as they no longer have to bring large amounts of cash to pay for tickets. 

In addition, the cashless payment options are seen to reduce the queue at the bus port, particularly during peak seasons such as Christmas, New Year, and Holy Week when many Filipinos are traveling back to their provinces.

“Whether it’s online or at the bus port, booking bus tickets is now more convenient for passengers, and their total experience now made more secure with the help of PayMaya’s cashless payment options,” said Antonio Mardo, senior vice president for operations at Araneta Center. 

“From malls to restaurants and now even to bus ports, businesses are realizing the benefits of giving their customers cashless payment options to avail of their products and services. This partnership with the Araneta Center BusPort will not only bring tremendous convenience to commuters, but will help the bus port operate more efficiently as well,” PayMaya Philippines president and chief executive officer Orlando Vea said. 

With the partnership with PayMaya, the Araneta Center BusPort becomes the first transport hub in the country to integrate cashless modes of payment, complementing the facility’s ticketing and baggage handling systems and passenger lounge to provide convenience to commuters. 

The transport hub also joins other establishments engaged in the retail, food and beverage, and online commerce, as well as local governments that accept cashless payments to promote a cashless Philippines.

To use PayMaya to make payments, commuters can download the app on their smartphones and create an account using a mobile number from any Philippine telco.