Manila: Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday addressed issues raised by former Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza regarding the railway systems in the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to Philippines News Agency, Dizon expressed appreciation for the feedback and emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to alleviating the challenges faced by commuters while expediting the construction of major transport infrastructure projects. Dizon acknowledged the longstanding neglect of the railway systems, which has resulted in numerous areas needing improvement to enhance service quality.
Mendoza had pointed out several concerns, including the insufficient availability of Beep cashless payment cards, malfunctioning ticket vending machines, and the extended queues faced by seniors and persons with disabilities (PWD) at cashier windows. Dizon admitted that the shortage of Beep cards is a significant issue exacerbated by scammers selling counterfeit cards online. As a countermeasure, Dizon has tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Cybercrime Group with tracking down these scammers.
To address the Beep card shortage, Dizon has instructed Beep to increase their card supply and ensure that stations remain stocked. He also announced plans to open the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) to other card payment system providers, offering commuters more options. Furthermore, the new cashless payment system, which supports GCash, credit, and debit cards, is being piloted at the MRT-3 and will soon be implemented at LRT-1 and LRT-2.
Dizon has directed train line operators in the NCR to expedite the repair of malfunctioning vending machines and procure new ones. He warned vending machine contractors of potential fines if they fail to promptly fix the machines. The long lines for seniors and PWDs are attributed to a COA requirement that necessitates listing the names of all beneficiaries. Dizon is in discussions with COA to possibly accept an ID picture as proof of eligibility to streamline the process.
In addition, a dedicated Beep card for seniors and PWDs, offering a 50 percent discount, has been introduced. Dizon also addressed the recent LRT-2 suspension caused by a lightning strike, noting that shuttle vans were deployed to assist affected passengers, and services resumed an hour later after repairs.
Dizon concluded by encouraging the public to continue providing feedback, assuring that efforts will be made to address concerns swiftly.
