AF Payments to give out free Beep cards, offers shift to QR system

AF Payments Inc. on Monday said it has offered to shift to a QR system for EDSA Busway transactions, but it will issue free Beep cards for commuters "in need" for the meantime.

In a statement, AFPI said it is now in the process of addressing commuters' concerns regarding the mandatory use of the Beep cards at the EDSA Busway.

"In the meantime, to ease the burden of passengers who have challenges buying a Beep card, we will issue free Beep cards to people in need," the statement read.

"This offer has been made possible by our shareholders and business groups, who graciously donated the needed funds to pay for up to 125,000 free cards," it added.

The DOTr suspended the mandatory use of the Beep cards at the EDSA Busway starting Monday, October 5.

Moving forward, AFPI said it has offered the operators of the EDSA Busway for a system upgrade that will allow passengers to use a QR ticket via paper or mobile phone, instead of a Beep card.

"QR paper tickets will not cost anything in addition to the regular fare for the desired trip," it said.

"After we have upgraded the equipment in all buses plying the EDSA loop, passengers will be able to use a Beep card or a QR code ticket on all buses," it added.

Under the upgraded bus validation system, operators will be able to accept mobile phone based QR tickets that can be generated from bank applications or e-Wallets.

AFPI is currently in the process of inviting interested parties to sign up and participate as the QR ticket issuer. It also open-sourced the necessary technical specifications which have been made available online.

"As soon as the QR code ticket system is in place we will no longer be issuing free Beep cards as it is no longer necessary," AFPI said.

"At this time, passengers who do not want a Beep card can instead avail of a QR ticket, which no additional cost attached and will only require the payment of exact fare between the desired stops," it added.

To recall, the government ordered the enforcement of a cashless automatic fare collection scheme on public utility buses that ply the EDSA Busway route starting October 1, 2020 as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

However, many commuters were caught off guard, considering that the cost to acquire a card which were sold at P180 during the first day of implementation — P100 for the card, and P80 load.

The DOTr over the weekend already threatened to suspend the use of the automatic fare collection system (AFCS), if operators continue to charge for the cards.

For its part, AFPI said it does not earn from the sales of the reloadable stored value cards as it is only selling at cost.—AOL, GMA News