Contactless transactions have become part of the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Private operator of LRT-1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has deployed sixty-five (65) e-tap loading kiosks to all LRT-1 stations as part of its initiatives to promote a safer and more convenient commute for the riding public.
Through these e-tap kiosks, LRT-1 passengers can load their beep™ cards or Stored Value Cards (SVC) on their own and enjoy the convenience of hassle-free journey by avoiding queues at teller booths, limited face-to-face contact, and exchange of cash. Moreover, beep™ cards are one of the widely used payment methods today across railway lines. Many transportation modes such as Point-to-Point (P2P), Metro Manila city buses, and modern PUVs are already accepting beep™ cards as a payment method making these cards very useful.
The e-tap kiosks will serve as an addition to the existing Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), which are used to buy/load SVCs and purchase Single Journey Tickets (SJTs). LRT-1 stations also have the beep™ e-load machine, which are Over-The-Air (OTA) loading machines allowing cardholders to transfer load from a mobile wallet or debit accounts to their beep™ cards. The load is reflected when the card is tapped and updated using a beep™ e-load machine. There are also SVC extender machines used by passengers to extend the validity of their expired beep™ cards. beep™ cards need to have a minimum balance of Php 10 to be extended.
“We at LRMC remain committed to finding solutions to improve our services every day. We take pride in knowing that what we do contributes to our society, not just through rail infrastructure improvements, but also through our steps towards making our transport sector at par with international standards and achieving integrated mobility. What we aim to create is an efficient and thriving ecosystem and community,” said Jacqueline Gorospe, LRMC Head of Corporate Communications and Customer Relations.
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