The government aims to fully integrate the tap-and-go payment system to “modern jeepneys” starting 2018, a tentative timetable showed, as designs for the upgraded public transport means were unveiled last week.
Under the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program of the transportation department, the automated fare-collection system should be incorporated in the modern jeep by the first quarter of 2018.
It should be fully integrated by 2020, the tentative timetable showed.
Already, AF Payments Inc., the company behind the beep card—a tap-and-go payments system for different transportation means and a few retail stores—paraded its technology during the first Philippine Auto Parts Expo (PhilApex) last week.
Several of the modern jeepney prototypes on display at the event were furnished with a working beep- card reader that employs a tap in, tap out scheme. Passengers 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 system essentially eliminates the driver’s task to collect the fare from passengers, thereby reducing the risk of being distracted from driving. ”We are ready to support the Department of Transportation’s 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,” AF Payments President Peter Maher said.
The transportation department is moving to modernize the public transportation sector in the Philippines by 2020. This involves the phasing out of old jeepneys, and equipping them with Euro 4 emission standard engines.
They will also be required to be equipped with speed limiters, GPS, dash cam and CCTV to ensure safety and security of the commuters.
Jeepney operators are scheduled stage a nationwide strike today, Monday and Tuesday, to protest the modernization program, which transport groups have claimed will negatively impact the livelihood of “more than 200,000 drivers”.
1 comment
so paano kukunin ng driver ang pasadas nya sa buong araw, abala pa sa kanya ..