MANILA – Imagine if you could ‘beep” to ride a jeep. Yes, that’s the idea behind the installation of working beep™ card readers employing a tap in-tap out scheme for several modern jeepney protoypes on display at the ongoing 1st Philippine Auto Parts Expo (PhilAPEX).
AF Payments Inc., the Ayala-Metro Pacific consortium behind beep card, brought its automated fare collection system to the expo, allowing passengers to tap in upon riding, and tap out before alighting. The fare is calculated based on the distance traveled.
This is the first ever automated fare collection solution made for jeepneys.
The jeepney prototypes on exhibit are new models that already comply with the Department of Transportation’s jeepney modernization mandate.
Peter Maher, President of AF Payments, said ”We are ready to support the Department of Transportation’s PUJ modernization program. We have developed a beep card service that is affordable to jeepney operators and will surely be appreciated by commuters in Metro Manila who have already purchased 4 million beep cards.”
PhilAPEX 2017 opened Thursday, October 12 and ends October 13 at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City. It was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, Board of Investments, Department of Transportation, Philippine Parts Maker Association Inc., Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota, and the Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc.
AF Payments Inc. is a consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp. providing contactless payment solutions in the Philippines through its integrated product and service offerings, thereby enhancing the transaction experience of every Filipino.
Its tap-to-pay system, the beep card, is available for use in all three elevated railways (LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3), select bus lines, CAVITEX, NLEX, and at select FamilyMart and Robinsons Movieworld branches. The beep card is reloadable up to P10,000 and is valid for four years. Off-rail reloading options include select outlets of Bayad Center, SM Bills Payment, Villarica, Tambunting, FamilyMart, and Circle K.
