By Brian Campued
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to roll out white and personalized Beep cards to make commuting more convenient and more affordable for students starting September.
This as the government implements the 50% discount for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities on all metro trains—the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and Line 2 (LRT-2)—in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve passenger transport and ease the daily expenses of Filipinos.
According to the DOTr, students only need to present their valid school ID at dedicated ticketing counters in all train stations starting Sept. 20, have their information encoded and image captured, and then sign the acknowledgment form.
A one-time fee of P30 is required before students can get their Beep cards with the discount already programmed into them.
Those who wish to avail of the discounted fares are also no longer required to fill out forms, which usually leads to long queues during peak hours.
“Hindi na kailangang [pasulatin] ang estudyante ng pangalan, ID number, signature, [at] date na humahaba… kawawa naman ang estudyante,” former DOTr Sec. Vince Dizon said during an inspection at the Antipolo Station of the LRT-2 on Aug. 13.
Every white Beep card will be valid for one year, will display the student’s name, and needs to be renewed every school year.
Meanwhile, the DOTr also warned against hoarders of Beep cards, then upselling them on online selling platforms at P200. (with report from Bernard Ferrer / PTV News)
-jpv
