Some 300,000 additional regular beep cards will be available starting next week to address the shortage affecting train commuters in Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Wednesday.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the cards will be distributed across Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3, and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to resolve the scarcity that has caused long queues and inconvenience to passengers.
“By next week, wala na tayong shortage ng beep cards. Beep Card will be completing a delivery of 300,000 additional cards across MRT-3, LRT-1 at LRT-2. ‘Yun ang na-compute nating shortage,” Dizon said.
(By next week, we will no longer have a shortage of beep cards. Beep Card will be completing a delivery of 300,000 additional cards across MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2. That is the computed shortage.)
The Transportation chief also warned that authorities will clamp down on syndicates that hoard beep cards and resell them for up to P300 each.
“Mayroong mga sindikato na namimili sa mga istasyon. We are coordinating with the PNP and SAICT. Babantayan namin ‘yung bawat istasyon para mahuli itong mga loko-lokong ito. Papahuli at ipapakulong natin sila,” he said.
(There are syndicates that buy cards at stations. We are coordinating with the PNP and SAICT. We will monitor every station to catch these troublemakers. We will have them arrested and jailed.)
The DOTr will coordinate with online selling platforms to shut down accounts and groups that are found selling Beep cards at marked-up prices.
Meanwhile, DOTr also announced Wednesday that personalized student beep cards granting automatic 50% fare discounts in Metro Manila’s rail lines will be available starting September.
The white, personalized beep cards will bear the student’s name. These will be valid for one year and may be renewed every school year. Students may visit any MRT-3, LRT-1, or LRT-2 station starting next month, present their school ID, and have their personalized card printed on the spot.
Further, the Transportation Department has scrapped the forms that students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) had been filling out to avail of the 50% fare discount on the MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
