The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that they are partnering with various digital payment providers in order to begin implementing a cashless transaction system in taxis and transport network vehicle services (TNVS).
“Cashless and contactless payment scheme will now be part of the ‘new normal’ in the public transportation system. This should not be treated by taxi operators as another transaction cost. Rather, this move intends to limit direct physical contact between drivers and their passengers and help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.
In areas placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), taxi operators and transport network companies (TNCs) are now allowed to resume operations—though, of course, they will have to observe safety measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Currently, DOTr has partnered with GCash, which will enable taxi drivers to accept digital payments through the Scan to Pay (STP) app via its QR technology. Using its app, GCash users will only need to scan the unique QR code of the taxi unit they are riding to pay for their metered fares.
GCash is also offering GCash PowerPay+ to taxi operators. This platform will be a fund disbursement facility that lets companies send out salaries, allowances and commissions through GCash to their employees or members nationwide.
“Hindi na magiging problema kung paano ba ang sistema sa pagbayad ng pasahe sa taxi. Malilimitahan ang direct contact sa pagitan ng drayber, at ng pasahero. Mao-observe ang physical distancing. Ibig sabihin, dahil sa maliit o walang tsansa na kumalat ang COVID-19, mas maraming buhay ang ating masasalba,” said LTFRB Chair Delgra III.
With the announcement of its partnership with DOTr and LTFRB, GCash is already collaborating with various taxi operators nationwide to implement the “new normal” digital payment scheme.
According to Delgra, the LTFRB is also in talks with other electronic payment providers including Squidpay, Paymaya and Beep in order to add more digital fare payment options.
“We had consultations with these providers over the weekend. We are encouraging these digital payment providers to partner with taxi operators and TNCs to lessen the chance of COVID-19 spread,” the LTFRB chairman said. He also added that TNCs like Hirna, Grab and Owto are already accepting cashless transactions as part of their system.
Header photo from Inquirer.net
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
