DOTr warns of looming ‘Beep’ cards shortage

The Department of Transportation has warned the commuting public of an impending shortage of stored-value passenger train cards or “Beep” cards, ahead of the reopening of in-person classes on Monday, August 22.

In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said it is “addressing the looming ‘Beep’ card shortage due to global chip supply chain problems by finding alternative ways to solve the expected demand of beep cards when the rail transit system becomes fully normalized.”

Quoting Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez, the agency said "Beep” card provider AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) “cannot fulfill the delivery of 75,000 SVCs vis-a-vis the card forecast demand of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) for the month of July 2022 despite its repeated and diligent coordination with card suppliers abroad.”

Thus, the DOTr has advised the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) of rail lines to brace for an expected shortage of available beep cards amidst a shortage of worldwide production of chips, affecting the production, distribution and sale of cards to rail line commuters.

Citing a letter addressed to PTOs of rail lines Light Rail Transits 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and 2), and MRT-3, the DOTr said that Chavez noted the limited access to special gasses from Russia to manufacture NXP chips, the lingering repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in major manufacturing hubs such as China, and increased shipment and logistics costs due to the global economic downturn as factors contributing to the supply shortage of stored value cards (SVCs).

Moreover, the agency said that it has directed all PTOs to make the necessary adjustments in controlling the sale of SVCs in order to avoid untoward incidents and to allay fears of rail commuters, and “exert their best efforts in communicating the same to their rail commuters.”

Measures are in place to address the shortage and meet the demand of commuters for contactless cards even as the DOTr and its “Beep” card provider continue to look for alternative ways such as the use of single journey tickets (SJTs), the DOTr said.

Likewise, the Transportation Department reminded “Beep” card holders to take care of the SVCs with more passengers expected to avail of “Beep” cards in anticipation of the return of face-to-face classes.

SVCs or “Beep” cards purchased at LRT-2 can be used for other rail lines such as MRT-3 and LRT-1. —LBG, GMA News