MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) will begin the implementation of the unified ticketing system in the coming months.
Under the new system, only 1 ticket will be used in taking the MRT and LRT, which is unlike the present system where MRT 3, LRT 1 and LRT 2 have different tickets.
Last year, there had been a problem with the ticket of MRT 3 after the P100 stored value tickets did not work.
The MRT 3 management admitted that there was a problem with the software being used in the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS).
Starting May, the new ticketing system can be used with the LRT Line 2 wherein the ticket will be tapped over the machine and there is no need to insert. In the months to come, similar ticket will be used in MRT 3 and LRT 1.
“It’s a contactless system its a tap and go system so there is less inserting required, when your simply tapping its not as likely to breakdown like the old system you insert the card,” Peter Maher, CEO of AF Payments said.
There will be reloadable cards amounting to P20 that can be also be reloaded with P11 up to P10,000.
Tickets may be bought from ticket vending machines, as well as, from the tellers at the stations.
The new ticketing system will start with LRT 2 in May, with MRT 3 in June and with LRT 1 in July.
More than 600,000 passengers are taking the MRT 3 everyday while 500,000 take the LRT 1. The commuters for LRT 2 average more than 300,000 everyday.
However, to some passengers, this is not the matter that should take first preference.
According to Oscar Abanes, “Rail tracks.., all the others should come after, the train should come first.”
“The train should first be fixed, then the ticket, so the passengers will be satisfied,” Rio Casido said.
The AFCS project was approved by President Benigno Aquino III and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) last November 2013.
The smart card-based technology is similar to the Octopus Card system being used in developed countries like Hong Kong to facilitate commuting in trains in Metro Manila. (Mon Jocson / UNTV News)