The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has clarified that public utility vehicle (PUV) operators are choosing the automatic fare collection system (AFCS) for their units in line with the agency's directive to implement contactless transactions in public transport.
"Noong naglabas ng polisiya ang LTFRB, ang nakalagay lamang po sa guidelines ay kailangang mag-implement ang PUV ng cashless transaction to protect the health of commuters. Wala pong specific AFCS na required. Ang kailangan lang, cashless," Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said in a message to reporters.
(When the LTFRB issued its policy, the guidelines only stated that PUV must implement a cashless transaction to protect the health of commuters. No specific AFCS has been required as long as it is cashless)
"Ang implementation ng cashless system, hindi lang limitado sa paggamit ng card. Kaya nga meron din pong mga PUVs na gumagamit ng QR Code through GCash, Paymaya, Squidpay, among others," Libiran added.
(The implementation of the cashless system is not just limited to cards. That is why there are also PUVs that use QR Code through GCash, Paymaya, Squidpay, among others.)
The DOTr had earlier imposed a full cashless transaction system on passenger buses using the EDSA Busway through electronic payment provider BeepTM which was operated by AF Payments Inc., a consortium of Ayala Group and First Pacific Group.
The move was part of the agency's added safety measures to further curb the spread of the coronavirus through limited handling of cash between passengers and conductors.
However, the new policy did not sit well with commuters who bear the brunt of extra cost on purchasing new beep cards while still reeling with the economic effects of the pandemic.
According to commuters, a beep card being offered at bus stations costs P180 – P80 for the card and P100 for the load. On top of this, a P5 convenience is also being charged for third-party service providers for reloads, while there is a P65 maintaining balance policy.
In a recent Senate hearing, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said that he directed AFCS providers not to passed to commuters the cost of the cards and just give it for free.
"Pinagtulakan ko kanina na dapat po libre ang card na in-implement natin ngayon sa EDSA busway. Mayroong notices na lumalabas na nagsasabi na P80 pag walang load, P30 pag may load. Hindi ko po maintindihan ‘yan. Dapat po ang card ang ating hangarin ay libre lalo na kung maglo-load ka," Tugade said.
(I have been pushing that the card for the EDSA Busway should be free. Notices are saying its P80 when there is no load, P30 when there is a load. I do not understand that. We want the card to be free of charge)
Tugade had earlier said that the cost of the cards is important for the riding public who are mostly workers who have just returned to work.
AF Payments Inc. explained that the beep cards were "sold for P80 at zero profit, still partially subsidized as the full cost upon turnover to buyer is more than P80."
The AFPI added that it does not impose a minimum load, but passengers have to "ensure that there are enough funds on the card for the intended route."