The Central Bank of the Philippines (BSP) published an update welcoming the Department of Transportation’s rollout of tap-to-pay and scan-QR technologies for fare collection at Metro Rail Transit Line 3 stations, framing the move as part of its broader push to expand digital payments in everyday transactions. Under the Automated Fare Collection System project, the Department of Transportation partnered with the BSP and G-Xchange Inc. (GCash) to enable commuters to pay by tapping credit or debit cards or scanning QR codes from e-wallets, without needing to top up transit payment cards or purchase single-use tickets. The BSP noted it has been encouraging the payments industry since 2023 to address integration issues in transit fare systems, while emphasising compliance with interoperability and competition principles under the National Retail Payment System framework and other applicable regulations, alongside expectations for secure and reliable payment transactions. The Department of Transportation plans to extend technology-enabled payments to additional transit systems, aligning with the Philippine Development Plan goal to digitize 60 to 70 percent of all retail payments by 2028.
Central Bank of the Philippines 2025-07-25
Central Bank of the Philippines hails tap to pay and QR fare payments launch on Metro Rail Transit Line 3
The Central Bank of the Philippines (BSP) supports the Department of Transportation's implementation of tap-to-pay and scan-QR technologies at Metro Rail Transit Line 3 stations to expand digital payments. This collaboration with G-Xchange Inc. (GCash) aims to streamline fare collection without requiring top-ups or single-use tickets. The BSP emphasizes compliance with interoperability and competition principles under the National Retail Payment System framework, with plans to extend these technologies to other transit systems.