Credit cards, e-wallets now accepted at MRT 3

NEW cashless payment options for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) users have been launched by the government to make commuting faster and more convenient.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said passengers can now board trains at certain stations by just tapping their debit or credit cards, near field communication (NFC)-enabled Android phones or scanning GGash QR codes at turnstiles.

“There is no additional fare here. The system, what is deducted from your GCash, your credit card, your debit card, is the same as if you bought a single journey ticket,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon was quoted as saying in the vernacular.

The introduction of new MRT 3 payment methods was said to follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance commuter services through digitalization.

“There is also no need to queue at the ticket counter to buy single journey tickets because you can now go straight to the turnstiles to pay using the cashless option,” Dizon said.

“The help of partners like the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), LandBank, GCash, Visa and KentKart is very important to make this happen,” he continued.

The cashless payment options will also be implemented on the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1) and LRT 2 lines in the coming months in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the DOTr said.

Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid card users can also be used at designated contactless turnstiles to pay for MRT 3 fares Mastercard users with compatible e-wallets on NFC-enabled Android smartphones will also be able to use the service.

The initiative was said to be part of the increasing adoption of open-loop payment systems across Southeast Asia as supported by cooperation between government agencies, transit operators, financial institutions and payment technology partners.

Mastercard said it was also the first international payment network to introduce “tap and go” on Metro Manila’s public transport system last year.

“Commuters paying with their Mastercard cards will also benefit from peace of mind with the embedded advanced safety and security features that protect them against card skimming and payment fraud,” the company said.