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Passengers queue to board Edsa Carousel buses at Monumento, Caloocan City on September 30, 2020. The Department of Transportation announced the implementation of a fully cashless transaction system using Beep Cards on the public service buses of the system. EDSA bus lanes effective October 1, as Policy No Beep Card, No Ride. Infant Jesus Orbeta / Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and Samar Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento has proposed that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) use Quick Response (QR) codes instead of sound cards such as form of payment in public transport.
In a statement Monday, Sarmiento said this will avoid long lines at public transportation terminals and reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.
“DOTr can create their own rate recharge application using various forms of electronic wallets and various electronic banking platforms or they can turn to the private sector to do it for them,” Sarmiento said.
“This would prevent people from spending too much time queuing to get their cards and would reduce person-to-person interaction that could expose them to the coronavirus,” he continued.
Sarmiento said that the use of QR codes would also be more “profitable and friendly to the environment” since it would no longer be necessary to produce “plastic” sound cards.
“Giving away these beep cards for free is simply unsustainable because who would spend to mass produce these beep cards. Sooner or later, our passengers would have to pay for these sound cards because production is not free, ”said Sarmiento.
“Going cashless on our public transportation is the way to go,” he added.
A backlash over overpriced sound cards being sold at bus stations over the weekend led DOTr to suspend their mandatory use.
Many travelers regretted the implementation of cashless payments on public transport and fare cards that were sold for P180, or P100 for the card and only P80 charged.
EDV
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