'Remove fees' on card purchases except for fare load: LTFRB orders PUV, payment operators

MANILA - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday issued a circular mandating PUV operators and automated fare collection system providers to "remove" charges on cashless cards except for fare load effective Oct. 9.

The Department of Transportation earlier implemented the shift to cashless transactions for the EDSA busway to reduce human interaction and lessen the risk of contracting COVID-19.

The supposed exclusive cashless system was later suspended, and cash was again allowed to be used to pay for fares, after commuters complained of high Beep card prices on top of the load.

"To alleviate the burden of the riding public, the Board hereby directs all Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators and Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) to remove any charges or fees imposed for the purchase/use of their cards on top of the fare load," LTFRB said in circular dated Oct.6.

JUST IN: LTFRB orders Automated Fare Collection Systems service providers, like Beep, to REMOVE any charges or fees for purchase or use of their cards on top of fare load. pic.twitter.com/gDhHsrtwFL

— Jacque Manabat (@jacquemanabat) October 7, 2020

Failure to comply could result in "immediate suspension" of the automatic fare collection and penalties, the agency said.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday Beep cards should be given to passengers for free.

• Duterte says Beep cards should be given free

Beep card operator AF Payments Inc earlier said the cards at P80 each were selling "at zero-profit" and was also "partially subsidized."

• Beep card operator 'working' with gov't to improve cashless payments, says P80 cards 'partially subsidized'

-- with a report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News