MRT and LRT to Accept GCash, Credit Cards + More as Payments by July

(SPOT.ph) Anyone who’s ever taken the MRT or LRT during rush hour knows the drill: before you even reach the platform, you’re stuck in a line to buy a Single Journey Ticket or top up your Beep card. That might be a thing of the past by next month.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to introduce a new contactless fare system that allows commuters to pay directly with credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets like GCash and Maya. The system will be deployed starting July, with the MRT-3 the first to roll it out.

“Mga bandang July ito, if I’m not mistaken. I-implement na natin sa MRT at sa ibang mga tren natin,” Dizon said. “Alam ko pati credit card puwede na. Ita-tap mo na lang ‘yung phone mo. Hindi ka na kailangan bumili ng Beep card.”

The upgraded system will use cashless turnstiles equipped to read cards and smartphones, removing the need for separate train cards, which have long been the standard for Metro Manila’s train systems. Pilot testing is planned for the period leading up to the July launch.

A similar initiative was already introduced in May 2023, when LRT-1 commuters were given the option to use QR tickets via the Maya app. Riders could purchase Single Journey Tickets through their phones and scan them at designated fast-lane turnstiles equipped with black Maya-branded scanners. Although the fare matched Beep card rates, a P2 convenience fee was charged per transaction. 

The move follows President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s push to modernize the public transport system to make commuting a little less painful, especially with the planned (and postponed) EDSA rehabilitation project. 

In addition to the new payment system, the DOTr has removed X-ray machines from MRT-3 stations to reduce wait times. As of writing, selected stations including North Avenue and Boni have already replaced them with metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs. The same measures are expected to be implemented in other stations in the coming weeks. 

“Nag-increase tayo ng visibility ng Coast Guard and other enforcement visibility na medyo kamukha sa ibang bansa. Ang mga baril malalaki, makahaba para deterrent kasi ‘yun ang nakita natin sa ibang bansa ginagawa,” Dizon said.