Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) has strengthened its role in enabling convenient, cashless commuting with the successful pilot launch of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) for MRT-3 on July 25, 2025.
The AFCS allows MRT-3 passengers to experience seamless commuting by simply tapping their debit, credit or prepaid Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) cards at upgraded turnstiles. This offers a faster and more convenient alternative to single-journey tickets and stored-value cards, marking a shift towards secure, seamless and real-time transit payments.
A ceremonial memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing and live demonstration were led by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board Member Walter Wassmer and Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda, Mynt president and chief executive Martha Sazon, Globe Exchange Inc. (GXI) president and chief executive Ren-ren Reyes, LandBank president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz, VISA country manager Jeffrey Navarro, RCBC president and chief executive Reginald Cariaso and RCBC chief innovation and inclusion officer Lito Villanueva, among other key stakeholders.
“We are proud to enable smart, secure, and contactless payments for daily commuters and to support the government’s push for digital transport reform. At LandBank, we are always ready to partner with both public and private players to scale interoperable payment solutions that improve everyday lives,” said Ortiz.
As part of the collaboration project, GCash operator GXI deployed and maintains the point-of-sale (POS) terminals and transit system at MRT-3 turnstiles. GXI also handles fare computation, reporting, and commuter support to ensure smooth card-based transactions.
LandBank serves as the sole acquiring bank and transit payment gateway integrator, ensuring that payments made using EMV cards are authorized, processed, and settled directly into DOTr’s account.
LandBank’s Transit Payment Solution supports fare payments across different transport modes through an integrated system of validators, a central payment gateway, and settlement services. It works for EMV and other dedicated cards and can connect with other transit providers through secure digital links to support a truly interoperable nationwide transit experience.
The AFCS is part of the national government’s broader agenda to digitize public services, aligning with Executive Order No. 170 and the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap.
LandBank said that with this initiative, it is poised to help build a fully modernized and inclusive public transport ecosystem, powered by financial technology and strong inter-agency and public sector collaboration.
