DOTC’s ‘Tap-and-Go’ Pilot Testing Starts at LRT-2

Mandaluyong City — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Monday that it has started testing its ‘tap-and-go’ modernized ticketing system through a limited public trial at the Legarda Station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2.

According to the DOTC statement, it said that the shift of the contactless Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) will enable seamless transfers from one metro line to another through a unified ticketing system which will shorten the queuing time of the train riders.

“This tap-and-go ticketing system will not only improve the commuting experience for train riders, it will also usher in a culture of cashless transactions across different industries,” DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya said.

He added, “It is fitting that the first transport PPP introduces new technology into our society, as our goal in DOTC is to modernize the country’s transport systems and catch up with our more advanced neighbors. To get it right, we need to go through testing first, with the goal of getting feedback from our passengers.”

Under the testing phase, the limited ‘beep cards’ will be sold for P20.00 which could be bought at designated windows and at two ticket vending machines located inside the station.

The new tickets may be used to exit from any LRT-2 station and can be reloaded at any of these locations. The tickets could have a minimum load of P12 and a maximum of P10,000.

AF Payments Inc. (AFPI), the project’s concessionaire, has also been conducting technical testing to check the operational aspects of the system since last week.

“We now enter a crucial phase which is to generate more volume to test the equipment and to assess the public’s ability to use the new system. We want to observe the user experience and see whether any improvements are necessary. We hope that as we roll-out the limited public trial, we are able to address any concerns that may come up to ensure a smooth transition to the new payment system,” AFPI Chief Executive Officer Peter Maher said.

On the following weeks, the AFPI has also aimed to expand the testing phase to other LRT-2 stations, until all the stations are fully equipped to sell, accept, and process the ‘beep cards’.

“This transition period, however, is also needed to identify any possible bugs in the system and to familiarize passengers with the new system,” DOTC said.

The LRT-2 station is the first Philippine commuter railroad to introduce the modernized smart card technology for its ticketing system. (MACV?Antonette Carino, PIA Intern)