OBLIQUE OBSERVATIONS

By Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, J.D.

ATTY. GILBERTO LAUENGCO, J.D. is a lawyer, educator, political strategist, government consultant, Lego enthusiast, and the director of CAER Think Tank. He is a Former Vice Chairman of MECO, Special Assistant of NFA and City Administrator among others. His broad experience has molded his unique approach to issues analysis which he calls the oblique observation.

Today, thanks to a partnership between the Department of Transportation (DOTr), GCash and Kentkart Philippines, you can use your debit/credit cards, GCash, Maya, QRPH codes, NFC-enabled mobile devices at designated turnstiles in Metro Rail Transit (MRT) three stations to pay for your ride as a part of an open loop automated cashless fare collection system that is the first of its kind in the Philippines. This proof-of-concept initial project is part of DOTr’s most ambitious and impactful program called the Philippine Automated Fare Collection System (PAFCS).

The PAFCS is the government’s master plan to unify fare payments across major rail systems (MRT 3, Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 and LRT 2), eventually the Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway, buses, and even jeeps. With this system, commuters can use a single payment method using any cashless platform at their disposal such as GCash, Maya, NFC-enabled devices, debit credit cards and any other e-platform to ride different transport modes.

Unlike a close loop system which requires a specific card per transport like Beep, the PAFCS envisions a system which will be universal or open to all types of electronic and card platforms or in the alternative a single card which you can use across the transport system under an interoperable system.

The PAFCS will usher in the start of a cashless society especially in transport. This system will allow easier tracking and data gathering to help plan out our transport system. This will also encourage financial inclusion getting most people into the financial system.

For the commuter, this system would eliminate long lines at ticket vending machines. Unlike in the close loop system, commuters do not need to buy a new card but can use their existing payment platforms like GCash or Maya.

It is the dawn of a new age in a contactless automated fare system similar to other systems in other countries. If you have any doubts about the system, try it out at the MRT 3 stations. Hopefully, the system will soon be in place at the LRT 1 and LRT 2 stations. There are buses that are also trying out this new concept. Try it out.