DOF chief Frederick Go launches LRT-2 cashless payments with P1 fare promo

Insider Spotlight

• LRT-2 now accepts bank cards, smartphones, smartwatches and GCash QR payments.
• MySSS Card powered by RCBC DiskarTech holders can ride for P1 for two weeks.
• The pilot is expected to pave the way for cashless payments across public transport.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go on Monday introduced Light Rail Transit Line 2’s (LRT-2) cashless fare payment system, with a two-week P1 fare offer aimed at encouraging commuters to try the new platform.

Passengers can now pay for rides by tapping Visa or Mastercard bank cards, compatible smartphones or smartwatches, or by scanning a GCash QR code at fare gates, eliminating the need to queue for paper tickets.

The P1 fare promo is available to holders of the MySSS Card powered by RCBC DiskarTech during the first two weeks of the rollout.

Making commutes easier

“Itong programa na ito ay tugma sa layunin ng ating gobyerno na makatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Utos po ito ng Pangulo na maghanap kami ng paraan na mapapadali, mapamura, at mapa-ginhawa ang buhay ng ating mga mamamayan.”

(This program supports the government’s goal of helping our fellow Filipinos. The President directed us to find ways to make life easier, more affordable and more convenient for our people.)

Frederick Go

DOF Secretary

Go made the remarks during the launch of the LRT-2 Digital Fare Payments Proof of Concept at Legarda LRT-2 Station.

The project is a partnership among the Department of Transportation, the Light Rail Transit Authority and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Towards interoperable transit payments

Go said the government has been pushing reforms to make digital financial services more affordable, citing the recent removal of transfer fees for InstaPay and PESONet transactions by many banks.

He said he expects the pilot to pave the way for interoperable digital fare payments across the country’s public transportation network.

—Edited by Miguel R. Camus