A group of digital advocates urged on Wednesday, Nov, 30, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to look into the inappropriate practice of selling beep cards online when there is a shortage of supply at Metro Rail Transit (MRT) stations.
Ronald Gustilo, Digital Pinoys national campaigner, disclosed that beep cards sold online are more expensive than those sold at the MRT stations, adding that there is also an additional cost for shipping fees.
Citing their own research, Gustilo said stored value cards are being sold P188 at online stores, excluding the shipping fees while at the MRT stations, they are sold for P100 with P70 load balance.
In the past days, netizens also complained that amid the shortage of beep cards, a number of individuals are selling them at a higher price in what appears to be a case of hoarding beep cards in order to sell them for a higher price.
"They (beep card provider) should have first ensured that the supplies in MRT stations are sufficient before selling in online shopping platforms." Gustilo said.
Gustilo then urged the DOTr to look for another prepaid card provider and also consider contactless payment methods to address the issue of card shortage in train systems in order to ease the burden of commuters using the mass transport system.
While the government has been encouraging the use of mass transport, commuters would usually find themselves falling on long queues at the MRT stations aside from the shortage problem of beep cards.
"Many transportation systems around the world are using this technology (contactless payment method) and millions of Filipinos are using smartphones, making the transition to contactless payments not that hard," said Gustilo.
He said the DOTr can also maximize digital currency providers more accessible to commuters such as GCash and Maya.
"This is an opportunity for the DOTr to make transportation just a tap easier by employing technology already widely available and do away with contractors that cannot deliver to its duties," said Gustilo.