MANILA, Philippines — House Transportation Committee Chair and Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento has proposed that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) utilize quick response (QR) codes over beep cards as mode of payment in public transportation. Sarmiento said the use of QR codes would also be more “cost-effective and environment-friendly” since producing the “plastic” beep cards would no longer be needed. “Giving away these free beep cards is simply unsustainable because who would spend to mass manufacture these beep cards. Sooner or later, our commuters would have to pay for these beep cards because the production is not free,” Sarmiento said. Backlash over the overpriced beep cards sold at bus stations over the weekend prompted the DOTr to suspend its mandatory use.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 05, 2020 03:22 UTC