Allowing for more convenient rides for the commuting public.
Om Wednesday, December 17, the cashless payment option for the EDSA Bus Carousel network was officially launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and e-wallet platform GCash.
As part of this pilot scheme that will last for one year, 260 busway units have been fitted with the GCash SoundPay device.
This program is also in support of the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Proof of Concept for the National Standards (NS), which aims to have hassle-free fare transactions, minimize cash handling, and expand the option of commuters to use e-wallet.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez noted, “Ito pong cashless payment ay isang malaking pamamaraan upang sa ganoon masasabi natin na indeed the travel of our commuters is now more convenient.”
He also assured that there will be no GCash convenience o transaction fees imposed, with the 20 percent discount for students, persons with disability (PWDs), and senior citizens using the busway still in effect.
“Hindi lang po ang pagmomodernize ng ating mga infrastructure ang kailangan. Hindi lang po ang pagmomodernize ng ating mga pampublikong sasakyan ang kailangan. Higit sa lahat ang pag modernize ng sinasabi nating public service o passenger overall experience at ito ang binibigay ng GCash at ito rin ang binibigay talaga ng consortium sa busway,” continued the DOTr chief.
Meanwhile, as part of the launch, Lopez, along with representative from the payment platform and the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas rode the bus from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to Santolan, Quezon City.
GCash for Business Head Jong Layug shared, “GCash invests a lot on building our security and top of the line po itong ginagamit namin so hindi po ito maha-hack.”
For his part, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan noted, “This is going to be convenient sa commuters kasi wala ng magiging problema sa pagbayad and it’s very fast. We pay the exact fare and ‘yung pamasahe natin dideretso na sya sa account ng operator.”
For the cashless payment on the busway, users will just need to open their GCash app, click tje scan to pay QR code option, then the SoundPay device QR that is with the bus conductor, type the amount of fare, and click ‘pay.’
