Personalized beep cards with an automatic 50 percent discount for students can be availed this coming September, announced the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Once the special white cards are issued, students will no longer need to queue at ticket counters to avail of the 50 percent discount in MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 stations. They will also receive their new beep cards as they request it, instead of after five to seven days of processing.
“Kung ikaw ay estudyante, starting September, pupunta ka sa kahit anong station, papakita mo ang iyong ID, and right then and there, ipi-print ang iyong student beep card in every station sa MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said.
(If you are a student, starting September, you can go to any station, show them your ID, and right then and there, they will print your student beep card in every station at the MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2.)
These beep cards, which will bear the student-commuter’s name, are valid for one year and can be renewed every school year.
“Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo na dapat ang biyahe ng ating mga estudyante ay mabilis at convenient para hindi sila nale-late sa klase. Starting September, hindi na sila mahihirapan,” Dizon said.
(The President has instructed that our students’ trips should be swift and convenient so they aren’t late to class. Starting September, they will no longer have to struggle.)
At present, these white beep cards are available to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), who are also entitled to 50 percent discounts on train fares.
Earlier, the DOTr announced that students, PWDs, and senior citizens can avail themselves of the 50 percent fare discount at all MRT and LRT stations without needing to fill out forms, which leads to unnecessary delays for passengers.
Dizon also announced that 300,000 more regular beep cards will be available in the following week, in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to resolve the shortage of stored-value cards.
