DOTr: MRT-3 goes cashless; LRT next

MANILA, Philippines — Commuters using the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) can now go cashless as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), in partnership with e-wallet giant GCash and other government agencies, rolled out yesterday the automated fare collection system.

The AFCS provides MRT-3 commuters a faster way to pay train fares directly using the GCash app or EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) debit and credit cards.

“Commuters have the option to pay fares using different payment methods. They don’t have to fall in line to buy their tickets,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said. “This is a first of its kind in the world, I was told, because in other countries, not all forms of visa cards are accepted.”

All stations of the MRT-3 have been equipped with the one GCash-powered tap-to-pay turnstile. 

Aside from GCash QR code, passengers may simply tap their credit, debit or prepaid cards at the turnstiles to pay for train fares. 

The automated system eliminates the need for queuing to buy single-journey or stored-value tickets, the DOTr said.

“Our goal is to eventually enable all turnstiles, not just one. The Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 will also have this system,” Dizon said. 

The project was made possible through the collaboration of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Information and Communications Technology, LandBank of the Philippines and GCash.

“At GCash, our goal is to make Filipinos’ lives better. If before, commuters have to line up as early as 4:30 a.m. to buy a ticket, hopefully, with this project, we can help them shorten the lines and speed up their travel,” GCash president and chief exeuctive officer Martha Sazon said. “We are proud that this is the first in the world because we accept QR, all types of cards and we even accept tap to pay.” — Ghio Ong