World first: MRT-3 goes tap and go as GCash, cards, phones now accepted

Commuting just got a whole lot easier for Metro Manila train riders.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday launched a new cashless fare system for the MRT-3, allowing passengers to skip the ticket lines and go straight to the turnstiles using their phones or cards.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said passengers can now board the MRT just by tapping their GCash QR code, their NFC-enabled Android phone, or even their credit or debit card.

And it’s not just about convenience—it’s also a global first.

“This is the first of its kind in the whole world,” Dizon said proudly. “Almost all payment modes can be used in one device. This is what the President is pushing us to make the travel experience convenient.”

The upgrade was made possible through a collaboration between the government and the private sector, including Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, Landbank, GCash, Visa, and transport tech company KentKart.

Even Mastercard users can now breeze through MRT-3 gates using their contactless cards. And in a few months, this tech will be rolled out on LRT-1 and LRT-2, with help from the Yuchengco family’s Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Source: Bilyonaryo