LRT to use ‘beep’ cards next month

MANILA, Philippines - Light Rail Transit commuters will no longer use old magnetic cards at all LRT stations as the contact-less Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) – that would use beep cards will be fully operational beginning next month.

LRT administration spokesperson Atty. Hernando Cabrera said commuters at LRT Lines 1 and 2 will use the tap-and-go or “beep” cards in September.

He said that the private concessionaire, AF Payments, a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Ayala Corp., plans to use the beep cards at all LRT stations as stipulated under the contract.

Cabrera said AF Payments, which bagged the contract in 2013, has finished replacing the turnstiles at LRT Line 2, where beep cards have been in use since July 20.

Peter Maher, chief executive officer of AF Payments, earlier said around 67,000 beep cards were sold during the trial run.

Cabrera said the turnstiles at the LRT Line 1 stations’ southbound entrances have been replaced and “they are starting on the northbound (turnstiles). By September, everything will be online.”

The LRT Line 1 stopped selling the old magnetic cards for its northbound trips on Aug. 8. 

Cabrera said stored value card holders can still ask for a refund in the form of cash or a voucher until Aug. 15. He said the voucher can be used later on to buy beep cards.