The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is said to be working on a project that will soon allow Filipino commuters to use their credit and debit cards in public transportation.
Dubbed as the automated fare collection system (AFCS), the project could cost around Php4.5 billion. The government is eyeing a 2023 launch for the AFCS.
DOTr Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said that they will submit a feasibility study to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for them to review.
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The said study, as per Chavez, is currently in its “final stage.” The DOTr exec expects to begin discussing the project with NEDA in the next three months.
Chavez is pretty optimistic that in “one-and-a-half to two years,” Filipinos can finally use “credit cards in public transportation without hassle.”
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The AFCS will host tons of card issuers like Mastercard and Visa, which allows its users to settle fare payments with either credit or debit. It will also accommodate Beep Card and will soon support other transport units.
This upcoming automated fare collection system will cover buses, jeepneys, railways, and even air services. The government will own the system that will conduct the payment scheme.