Starting September, students commuting via MRT and LRT can avail of special Beep cards that automatically apply the 50% fare discount—similar to those already given to senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the move will save students from long lines for single-journey tickets. “Hindi lang yung discount ang importante. Kailangan yung experience nila hindi sila pinapahirapan… Kung ikaw ay estudyante, pupunta ka sa kahit anong station, papakita mo ang iyong ID at right then and there ipiprint ang inyong student Beep card,” he explained.
Beep card operator AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) assured that the application process will be faster, with printers deployed in every station. “From 5 days, it will now be shortened to 5 minutes. That’s the average. That’s the target,” said AFPI President and CEO Jojo Carpio.
Unlike lifetime-valid senior citizen and PWD Beep cards, student Beep cards must be reactivated every school year.
In the meantime, students, seniors, and PWDs no longer need to fill out forms to get the 50% discount for single-journey tickets—showing a valid ID at the ticket booth will suffice. This comes after MRT-3 management worked with the Commission on Audit to address commuter complaints about the time-consuming process.
Dizon noted that removing unnecessary paperwork helps students avoid being late to class. “Hindi na kailangan pa-fillupan ng pangalan, ID number, signature, date. Nire-record na lang ng teller,” he said.
