The Department of Transportation is looking at a portion of the agency’s fund allocation under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 to fund the free Beep cards for commuters, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told senators on Friday.
“Kanina ho napag-usapan namin, I cued ang aking mga kasamahan na sabi ko sipatin at silipin ninyo nga kung iyong Beep card ililibre natin ay pwedeng makuha sa Bayanihan 2 po,” Tugade said during the Senate deliberations on the DOTr’s proposed P143-billion budget for 2021.
The DOTr chief made the remark after Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto estimated that one million Beep cards at P80 each would only cost the DOTr P80 million.
The Bayanihan 2 allocated P9.5 billion for DOTr’s assistance to the transport sector stakeholders affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Tugade added he is also in talks with bus operators to make the cashless payment system more affordable for commuters.
DOTr looking at Bayanihan 2 budget to fund free Beep cards
Tugade and other DOTr officials added they are working remarked minimum load requirement for Beep cards and removing the P5 convenience fee imposed on beep users.
The implementation of “no beep card, no ride” policy in the EDSA busway, making all transactions cashless started on October 1.
Confusion, complaints, and long queues greeted the policy’s implementation first day, with commuter complaining of the expensive beep cards.
At the bus stop, the price of the Beep card is P180. It contains a P100 load and can be used as a fare to the destination. Those without a Beep card will not be able to board the bus.
In a statement, Tugade earlier said he was negotiating to make the charge on Beep cards free for commuters.
“Dapat libre lang ang card. We are still under quarantine measures. Workers who have just returned to work are the main users of the rail system and the EDSA Busway. Malaking bagay para sa mga ordinaryong manggagawa ang P30-P50 na ikakaltas para bayaran ang Beep card. Pasahe din ‘yun. They should be spared from the burden of having to pay the price of the beep card on top of their fares,” Tugade said.