Jamaine Punzalan

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Andrea Taguines

Benise Balaoing

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17534106409601753410632685.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Commuters can now enjoy a more convenient, tap-and-go payment system at the MRT-3 using their mobile wallet, or credit card and debit card.</p><p>Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon led the pilot implementation of the automatic fare collection system (AFCS) at the Ayala MRT station on Friday by using his GCash account to pay for his fare on a &quot;Fast Lane&quot; turnstile.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1948552115921846783&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-07-25T02%3A33%3A53.139997%3A59d3686c-5ba3-4507-933d-1002d02c5798%26action%3Dedit%26popup&amp;sessionId=9c69821dd2b5e9558679e0f0c40825f63d669f4d&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1948552115921846783"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>For now, each MRT station only has one turnstile that is AFCS-enabled but Dizon said the goal is to upgrade all the turnstiles not just in the MRT line but also in the LRT-1 and LRT-2 and beyond.</p><p>“Ang next natin yung busway and eventually sana magawa din natin kahit sa mga PUVs (public utility vehicles) natin, pati buses and jeepneys sana pwede na rin,” he said.</p><p>The rollout is aimed at reducing the queues at ticket counters.</p><p>“Hindi na siya hassle. Kasi sa pila pa lang, pagod ka na diba? Minsan nale-late din ako,” said regular MRT passenger Angela Decena.</p><p>Another commuter also welcomed the development even if he already has a Beep card.</p><p>“May mga times na po na nawala po yung Beep card ko tapos kailangan ko ulit pumila. Minsan nagkakaubusan,” said Andrew Julao.</p><div><strong>HOW DOES IT WORK?</strong></div><div><strong>1. Credit Card/Debit Card</strong></div><p>Mastercard and Visa credit, debit, or prepaid card holders can simply tap their cards directly on the turnstile.</p><div><strong>2. GCash</strong></div><p>Users need to select the “Commute” icon on the app to generate a QR code that they can scan on the turnstile. Android users can meanwhile enable the ‘tap to pay’ option on the app and tap their phone directly on the payment terminal, without the need to scan anything.</p><p>GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes explained that upon entry, the system will withhold P28 from the passenger’s account which is equivalent to the end-to-end fare for the MRT-<strong>3. But when you tap out, only the correct fare will be charged.</strong></p><p>“Babalik na yung sukli niyo so ang macha-charge lang ay yung amount (based sa) distance, kung saan ka bumaba,” said Reyes, adding that this is how it is done globally as well.</p><p>He also assured the riding public that their system is secure, amid concerns of possible data leaks and other cybercrimes.</p><p>“We made sure that we worked with the best in security capabilities. Pati yung providers natin na ginagamit at partners, we made sure na secure po siya,” added Reyes.</p><p>According to Dizon, more payment options, such as other e-wallet platforms and banks, should be available soon as well.</p><p>“I think sasama na lahat kasi ang goal talaga natin dapat inclusive, dapat lahat ay pwedeng gumamit, lahat ng providers,” he said.</p><div><strong>WHAT ABOUT DISCOUNTED RIDES?</strong></div><p>Unfortunately, Dizon said those eligible for discounted rides such as students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities would still need to purchase a single-journey ticket for the meantime.</p><p>“Pero ina-assure tayo ng iba’t ibang partners natin na binibilisan nila ang pag-reconfigure ng kanilang sistema para ma-incorporate na natin ang discount doon sa students, PWD, at seniors,” he said.</p><div><strong>STRONGER, FASTER WIFI</strong></div><p>To ensure that passengers would be able to make use of the new payment technology, the DOTr also partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to improve the wifi across all MRT-3 stations.</p><p>“Dati kasi mabagal. Dinagdagan natin ng mas maraming infrastructure, ginawan ng DICT ng paraan para mabilis siya kahit maraming tao. At secure siya, ina-assure tayo ng DICT,” said Dizon.</p><p>Moving forward, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said there will also be free wifi inside the trains, and in other major transportation hubs.</p><p>“Siguro next month or so, we’ll have an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the telcos na airport, pantalan, bus station, lahat ng transport hubs dapat may free wifi na mabilis,” he said.</p><p>But in case of glitches, one passenger said there should be personnel ready to assist, especially since the program is new to many.</p><p>“Kapag maraming aberya, hahaba yung pila. Pero kung may tutulong nga sa’yo, siguro mapapadali,” said Nazarena Balanquit.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/21/mrt-to-launch-e-wallet-card-payments-on-friday-1129" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MRT to launch e-wallet, card payments on Friday</a></div><p>Meanwhile, in a statement, Visa said the initiative is part of its continued support for open-loop transit systems in the Philippines.</p><p>“We’re proud to bring Visa contactless payments to MRT-3 and help modernize everyday commuting for millions of Filipinos. This marks a significant step in building a more connected, cashless future for public transport in the Philippines. Through our partnership with the Department of Transportation and GCash, we’re enabling faster, safer, and more seamless journeys for commuters across Metro Manila,” said Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeff Navarro, who was also present during the event.</p>

<p>At the Ayala MRT station, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon used his GCash account to pay for his fare on a "Fast Lane" turnstile.</p>

At the Ayala MRT station, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon used his GCash account to pay for his fare on a "Fast Lane" turnstile.

DOTr launches cashless payments for MRT-3

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DOTr launches cashless payments for MRT-3

Andrea Taguines,

Benise Balaoing,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 25, 2025 09:55 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 25, 2025 04:42 PM PHT

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