DOTr suspends mandatory use of Beep cards at EDSA Busway

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended the mandatory use of Beep cards at the EDSA Busway starting Monday, October 5, with stakeholders scrambling to look for other service providers that can suit the demands.

In a statement on Sunday, the DOTr said the suspension will last "until the issue is resolved," and a dual payment system accepting beep and cash payments will be honored for the meantime.

"Those who have already bought or have existing beep cards may still use them for the payment of fares. Meanwhile, off board cash payment will be accommodated for those who have no card yet," the advisory read.

"Cash payments will be collected by the personnel from the EDSA Bus Consortia at the stations. These personnel will be wearing appropriate face shields, face masks, and gloves to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," 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 on the first day of the cashless scheme's implementation and the P180 cost to acquire a card - P100 for the card, and P80 load.

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

For its part, AF Payments Inc. -- the consortium that operates Beep cards -- said it earned nothing from the sale of the reloadable stored value cards as it was only selling at cost.

"[T]he EDSA Bus Consortia stated that they will look for another AFCS provider who can offer a better solution to the existing problem. Meeting with other AFCS providers is scheduled on Tuesday morning," the DOTr said. — DVM, GMA News