DOTr, Landbank roll out pilot automated fare collection system

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and state-run Land Bank of the Philippines on Thursday rolled out the pilot operation of their automated fare collection system project.

“The introduction of the AFCS EMV PPT (Automated Fare Collection System Euro-Mastercard-Visa Pilot Production Testing Project) will push further our aim to establish a cashless payment in our modern PUVs [public utility vehicle] since this will be the basis for the promulgation of a comprehensive policy for convenient and safe cashless payments and a tool for evidence-based transport planning,” DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said during the launch of the project at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

A total of 150 PUV units in selected pilot sites in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Cebu will participate in the AFCS PPT.

Only Landbank prepaid and credit contactless cards will be accepted and processed in the 150 participating PUVs during the first month of the AFCS pilot testing period.

Despite initially implementing the AFCS program with state-run Landbank, DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan said the government wants “an open automated fare collection system to avoid a monopoly.”

Batan added that public transport operators will still have a choice “on which equipment to use, AFCS provider, and overall maintenance they have to adopt.”

The AFCS, which allows the convenient use of EMV-compliant contactless credit, debit and prepaid bank cards as cashless payment instruments in public transport modes, will be tested under a real-time operational condition in preparation for its full and commercial implementation.

Once the necessary regulations or policies have been issued, the Landbank AFCS solution can also accept and process the EMV contactless cards issued by other local banks.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Cheloy Garafil said that the DOTr’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is focused on interconnectivity and convenience for commuters by centralizing payment in modern PUVs .

“As part of the PUVMP, they have seen it aims to centralize payment not only in modern PUJ but often other modes of public transportation, establishing interconnectivity for the convenience of the commuters,” Garafil said, noting that the cashless payment option will also help in slowing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Landbank president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo expressed support for the AFCS initiative.

“The Landbank extends our steadfast support for this project, through the smooth implementation of interoperable, cashless, and contactless payment system in the public utility vehicles,” Borromeo said. — BM, GMA News