Starting yesterday, Oct. 5, the Department of Transportation has suspended the use of beep cards for EDSA buses.
The DOTr issued the suspension following the refusal of AF Payments, Inc., the provider of the automatic fare collection system, ”to waive the cost of the beep card despite consistent pleas made by the government.”
“Thus, we are suspending the mandatory use of beep cards at the EDSA Busway until the issue is resolved,”
Instead, the DOTr said it will still honor a dual payment system for EDSA Busway passengers, which means that those who have already bought or have existing beep cards may still use their cards for the payment of fares.
“Meanwhile, off board cash payment will be accommodated for those who have no card yet. Cash payments will be collected by personnel from the EDSA Bus Consortia at the stations. These personnel will be wearing appropriate face shields, face masks, and gloves to prevent the transmission of COVID-19,” the agency added.
The DOTr said the EDSA Bus Consortia said they will look for another AFCS provider.
A meeting with other AFCS providers is scheduled on Tuesday morning, the DOTr said.
The DOTr said giving away the beep cards for free would have made a big difference to the commuters, mostly daily wage earners who are the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo urged the DOTr to provide beep cards for free for the train system in Metro Manila and Carousel buses plying the stretch of EDSA.
Castelo has filed House Resolution No. 1272 after the complaints of commuters against DOTr’s no-beep no-ride policy.
The fare card is being used at Carousel buses; at the Light Rail Transit line 1 (e Monumento to Pasay via Rizal and Taft avenues); at the LRT line 2 (Marikina to Manila via Cubao, Sta. Mesa and Claro M. Recto), and Metro Rail Transit line 3 (EDSA’s North Avenue in Quezon City to Pasay City).
“It is hereby suggested that the beep cards should be given to commuters for free, and there should be no usage fee charged on top of the pre-paid load,” Hipolito-Castelo said.
She lauded the shift to the cashless and contactless transactions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but lamented that “the cost of a beep card, which is P180 with an initial load of P100, is too much for minimum wage earners who often have only the exact fare for the day for their daily commute.”
According to Castelo, the P80 cost of the card is a big amount on the part of a daily wage worker, saying that “it can buy two-three kilos of rice, plus a can or two of sardines.”
She also urged the DOTr not to require commuters to have a maintaining balance on their cards.