State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has opened a contactless payment system using GCash at MRT-3 stations during a pilot live demonstration of the government’s automated fare collection system (AFCS) on July 25.
Landbank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz said they will ensure “smart, secure, and con-tactless payments for daily commuters and to support the government’s push for digital transport reform.”
The live demonstration was participated by officials from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information and Communica-tions Technology; and officials of Mynt and Globe Exchange Inc. (GXI), VISA and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
“We are always ready to partner with both public and private players to scale interoperable payment solutions that improve everyday lives,” Ortiz said.
As part of the collaboration project, GCash operator GXI deployed and maintains the POS terminals and transit system at MRT-3 turnstiles, handling fare computation, reporting, and commuter support to ensure smooth card-based transactions.
Meanwhile, Landbank serves as the sole acquiring bank and transit payment gateway inte-grator. It ensures that payments made using EMV cards are authorized, processed, and set-tled directly into DOTr’s account.
The bank said its transit payment solution supports fare payments across different transport modes through an integrated system of validators, a central payment gateway, and settlement services. It works for EMV and other dedicated cards, and can connect with other transit providers through secure digital links to support a truly interoperable nation-wide transit experience.
DOTr’s ACFS for MRT-3
Landbank pilot-launched the DOTr’s AFCS for MRT-3 on July 25.
Under the AFCS, MRT-3 passengers will have seamless commuting by simply tapping their debit, credit, or prepaid EMV cards at upgraded turnstiles. This offers a faster and more convenient alternative to single-journey tickets and stored-value cards, marking a shift to-wards secure, seamless, and real-time transit payments.
The event was participated by DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon; BSP Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer and Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan; DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda; Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon; GXI President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes; VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro; and RCBC President and CEO Reginald Car-iaso, and RCBC Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer EVP Lito Villanueva.
BSP: Tap-to-Pay, Scan-to-Pay
In a separate statement, the BSP lauded the DOTr’s tap-to-pay and scan-QR technologies at MRT-3 stations. It noted that this initiative is a key part of the BSP’s push for digitalization.
“Filipino commuters can now pay train fares by tapping their credit or debit card or scan-ning a QR code from their e-wallets. No need to top up payment cards or buy one-off tick-ets,” the BSP said.
