MRT to pull out Erap cards after reprimand?

After allegedly getting a verbal reprimand from Malacañang, the Metro Rail Transit Authority (MRTA)  yesterday said it would immediately pull out the controversial MRT fare cards bearing the photo of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

The pullout of the "Erap cards"  was confirmed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Sources said Malacañang had called up officials of the MRTA and asked them to explain why the Erap cards were still being used.

The MRTA earlier said it could not pull out the cards until replacement cards have been produced. Some 400,000 of the 700,000 remaining Erap cards were re-released due to shortage brought about by the increase of number of passengers and deterioration of the official MRT cards.

The MRT cards have a life span of about six months. The cost of production of each card is about P10.

In a telephone interview, DOTC spokesman Gen. Thompson Lantion said  the MRTA is likely to pull out all Erap cards in a week’s time.

"These will eventually be replaced soon. Former President Estrada is not the president anymore," Lantion said.

The Light Rail Transit Authority, on the other hand, has not been using cards with Estrada’s photo since he was ousted, LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles earlier said.

Robles said the LRTA still has about two million Erap cards.

He said they are trying to find out how they could print over these cards with a new design.