Many commuters caught off guard by 'no Beep card, no ride' policy

The implementation of the "No Beep card, no ride" policy in EDSA carousel buses on Thursday has caught several commuters by surprise, saying they were not aware of such policy.

According to Mark Salazar's report on Balitanghali, some commuters said they did not have extra cash with them to buy a Beep card, which is used for cashless fare collection.

Some reportedly opted to go home because of the long lines in outlets selling Beep cards.

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

A Beep card is valid for four years.

Aside from buses plying the EDSA Busway, the Beep card can be used to pay fares in LRT1, LR2, and MRT3 train lines, and some point-to-point buses, as well as modern public utility vehicles.

Earlier, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade called on AF Payments Inc., the consortium that operates the automatic fare collection system being used in the Metro Manila rail systems and on the EDSA Busway, to give the Beep cards to commuters for free.

The Department of Transportation said Tugade and senior officials of the department met on September 30 to discuss the issue of the Beep card cost which is being passed on to commuters, on top of the fare or the stored value on the card.

It said transportation officials unanimously agreed that the cost of the card should not be passed to the commuters as the department ordered AF to just give the cards for free.

No more conductors

Moreover, about 250 bus conductors will be displaced amid the health crisis due to the new cashless fare collection policy.

According to the Bus Transport Industry Tripartite Council, it is not ready for the displacement of the conductors and ticket dispensers because of the shortened routes and limited capacity of passengers in buses.

Transportation assistant secretary Alberto Suansing said the department has coordinated with bus operators regarding the cashless fare collection as early as July. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/KBK, GMA News