DOTr rolls out cashless transactions in MRT-3

Commuters can now tap their debit and credit cards, and e-wallets to hop on any Metro Rail Transit-3 station starting Friday, July 25 for a more hassle-free trip. 

Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said passengers can simply tap their cards, GCash Commuter QR code, or NFC-enabled Android smartphones in the new turnstiles. 

This means that one does not have to line up to purchase single journey tickets, he added. 

“Walang dagdag sa pasahe dito. 'Yung sistema, kung ano ang ikakaltas sa GCash ninyo, sa credit card ninyo, sa debit card ninyo, pareho lang kung bumili kayo ng single journey ticket,” said Dizon. 

(There is no additional fare here. In the system, what will be deducted from your GCash, your credit card, your debit card, is just the same if you buy a single journey ticket.) 

"First of its kind ito sa whole world. Halos lahat ng payment modes pwede in one device. Ito ang tinutulak sa atin ng Pangulo na gawing convenient ang travel experience.” 

(This is the first of its kind in the whole world. Almost all payment modes can be used in one device. This is what the President is pushing us to make the travel experience convenient.) 

Both Mastercard and Visa cardholders can take advantage of the cashless payment system: 

• GCash (Mastercard and Visa-Debit) 
• Landbank (Mastercard - Debit/Credit; Visa - Debit) 
• BPI (Mastercard and Visa - Debit/Credit) 
• BDO (Mastercard - Credit; Visa - Debit/Credit) 
• HSBC (Visa - Credit) 
• GoTyme (Visa - Debit) 
• UnionBank (Visa- Debit/Credit) 
• RCBC (Mastercard - Debit/Credit; Visa - Debit) 
• Metrobank (Mastercard - Credit) 
• Security Bank (Mastercard - Credit) 
• Maya (Visa - Debit/Credit) 
• Chinabank (Mastercard - Credit) 

In an earlier statement, Mastercard described the development as a “significant step” toward a “more seamless, secure, and digitally enabled public transport system.”

It said the new contactless payment capability also extends to Mastercard cardholders using compatible e-wallets on NFC-enabled Android smartphones, offering commuters greater flexibility and convenience in their daily travel.

The payments solutions company said the capability reflects the growing momentum behind open-loop payment systems across Southeast Asia, supported by collaboration between government agencies, transit operators, financial institutions, and payment technology partners.

Mastercard said open-loop systems allow commuters to use existing bank cards or mobile wallets to pay directly for rides, eliminating the need for proprietary transit cards or cash and reducing friction in fare payments. 

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 payments tech firm said.

Mastercard said the introduction of contactless payments on MRT-3 supports the government’s push for smarter, more efficient urban mobility — while also encouraging the everyday use of digital payments.

The company said it has enabled open-loop transit systems in major cities around the world — including London, Sydney, and Singapore. 

Further, Dizon said that the government will also roll out the cashless payment system in Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, in partnership with RCBC, “very soon.” — Vince Angelo Ferreras and Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA Integrated News