After drawing flak from commuters, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Saturday that it will leave them no choice but to suspend the automatic fare collection system in the EDSA Busway if the existing issuance fee of the Beep card will not be waived.
The DOTr is calling on the attention of AF Payments, Inc., the service provider of beep cards, to immediately stop the payment of the card on top of the fare load, or the agency will suspend its use.
“We call on the AFPI to view the card cost fee as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help its clients endure the result of the pandemic,” the DOTr said in a statement.
The suspension warning came after AFPI’s “no Beep card, no ride policy” drew flak from commuters. Transportation chief Arthur Tugade also requested earlier the operator to just give the Beep cards for free.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is scheduled to issue a memorandum circular waiving the said fee next week. RJ Espartinez