Manila, Philippines – Payment technology company Mastercard has recently forged a strategic collaboration with Beep Cards creator AF Payments, Inc., enhancing the commuting and payment digitisation experience of consumers by introducing contactless acceptance of Mastercards in the Philippines.
In this partnership, Mastercard’s advanced payments technology will allow cardholders to tap their prepaid, debit, or credit Mastercard cards for access to public transport, eliminating the necessity to buy individual tickets.
This will streamline commuters’ access and empower travellers to effortlessly tap in and tap out using their Mastercard cards in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3 Line) and buses in the country.
Moreover, both companies have also entered into an agreement to collaborate on a pilot programme, which will be implemented systematically through different phases across MRT stations as well as BGC and EDSA buses.
The two parties also aim to extend contactless payment acceptance to ferries and various transportation modes in the future and eventually nationwide. This programme will operate exclusively within Beep’s network as well as introduce and broaden open-loop transit payments facilitated by the Mastercard Gateway.
Speaking about the partnership, JJ Moreno, president and chief executive officer at Beep, said, “This is expected to benefit millions of Filipino commuters in Metro Manila, enhancing smart mobility through initiatives that bring our transit systems in line with global transport standards. We are excited to collaborate with Mastercard to boost the acceptance of contactless payments in transport and further improve commuters’ payment experiences.”
Simon Calasanz, country manager for the Philippines at Mastercard, also added, “Mastercard’s mission is to power a digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, by making payments safe, simple, smart, and accessible. This partnership with Beep will help enhance the commuting experience for all Mastercard cardholders. From reducing queues at peak hours to removing the need to carry multiple transit tickets or cash, cardholders will be able to use the same payment methods they already use for everyday spending.”
“What’s more, it also supports the government’s goal of driving financial and digital inclusion—improving the delivery of public services through innovative payment technologies,” Calasanz concluded.
The said partnership aligns with the government’s objective to propel digitisation of payments in the country and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap, aiming to expand contactless acceptance throughout the Philippines.
