AFPI hindi pumayag sa mungkahi ng DOTr na alisin ang cost ng beep card on top of the fare load

NADISMAYA ang Department of Transportation (DOTr) dahil sa pasya ng AF Payments, Inc., ang provider ng automatic fare collec- tion system (AFCS) sa EDSA Busway na alisin ang bayad sa beep card on top of the fare load kahit na pinakiusapan sila ng pamahalaan.

Mabigat ito para sa mga commuters na umaasa lamang bilang isang daily wage earners na naapektuhan ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Simula noong Monday, October 5, 2020, ang DOTr ay sinuspinde muna ang paggamit ng mandatory beep cards sa EDSA Busway habang hindi pa naaayos ang issue.

“In the meantime, a dual payment system will be honored for EDSA Busway passengers. Those who have already bought or have existing beep cards may still use them for the payment of fares. Meanwhile, off board cash payment will be accommodated for those who have card yet. Cash payments will be collected by personnel from the EDSDA Bus Consortia at the station. These personnel will be wearing appropriated face shields, face mask, gloves to pre- vent the transmission of COVIC-19,” ayon sa DOTr.

Samantala, sinabi ng EDSA Bus Consortia na maghahanap sila ng ibang AFCS provider na makapagbibigay ng tamang solusyon sa nasabing issue. Magkakaron ng meeting sa iba’t ibang AFCS.

Dati pang binigyan ng warning ng DOTr ang consortium na may hawak ng Beep card cashless payment system na kung hindi nila papayag na ibigay ng libre ang card, ito ay kanilang sususpendihin.

“The DOTr reiterated its call for AF Payments Inc. (AFCS) to immediately remove the charge for the Beep cards, on top of the far load. There are other AFCS providers and other modes of cashless transaction that PUV operators may tap. Thus, should the AFPI refuse to cooperate by allowing the free use of the Beep card to commuters upon payment of the load, the DOTr will have to sus- pend its use in the EDSA busway to alleviate the burden of com- muters,” ayon sa DOTr.