In response to system errors encountered during the ongoing pilot run of cashless payments on MRT-3, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and MRT-3 management announce the provision of free single journey tickets (SJT) to affected passengers starting today, Monday.
The move follows the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to implement immediate and practical solutions to concerns raised by commuters using debit/credit cards, QR codes, and NFC-enabled mobile devices for fare payments.
Since the pilot rollout began, several passengers have reported being charged the maximum fare of ₱28 due to tap-out errors at MRT-3 exit turnstiles. In response, the DOTr has been closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with MRT-3 to ensure affected riders are properly assisted.
As a remedy, passengers who are unable to successfully tap out due to system issues will be issued a non-expiring single journey ticket, equivalent to the maximum fare. This SJT can be redeemed and used for a future trip.
To claim the free ticket, commuters are advised to go to any MRT-3 ticket booth and present proof of the failed tap-out transaction, such as a digital payment record or card statement.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support of passengers for our cashless payments on the MRT,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. “We also ask for a little understanding for some of the problems during this pilot run, but rest assured that within August, we will have more cashless turnstiles and system upgrades will continue to prevent malfunctions.”
The DOTr emphasized that the pilot test aims to streamline fare collection and reduce queuing time, and that improvements will continue throughout the implementation phase.
