The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is now communicating with three new value card service providers after the suspension of the mandatory use of Beep cards in the EDSA Busway.
The DOTr said the new providers can lower the fees of cards or can make the sale of such cards through depositing.
“Mayroon nang nagpi-prisinta sa amin, tatlo na ‘yan na they can do it better, cheaper. Mayroon nga isa, parang bote ng softdrinks, may deposito. ‘Pag sinauli mo ‘yung softdrinks, ibabalik sa’yo ‘yung deposito (Three have already presented to us that they can do it better, cheaper. One of them follows the deposit scheme where you can have your deposit back once you return it),” DOTr Senior Consultant Engr. Bert Suansing said.
“Kaya mayroong charge ‘yun kasi kung walang charge, ‘yung pasahero itatapon tapon lang ‘yan then bili lang nang bili ng card, so masasayang naman (If there is no charge, the passenger will just throw it away and will keep on buying cards),” Suansing added.
Beep cards can still be used for the meantime despite the moratorium. However, they can no longer be put into use in the Busway system once the new provider gets in.
The suspension of Beep cards came after AF Payments, Inc. failed to provide a solution on the request of the DOTr to cut the fee on Beep cards alone. The previously approved mandatory use of Beep cards is in accordance with the memorandum of the DOTr regarding cashless payments in EDSA Busway. – Report from Karen Villanda
