LRT-2’s plea to commuters: Don’t lose stored value cards as shortage looms

FILE PHOTO: The reloadable beep card. INQUIRER/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines — Management of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), which stretches from Manila to Antipolo, has appealed to commuters to take extra care of their stored value cards.

This is because a shortage is likely amid a deficit in the production of chips, according to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

The LRTA issued its plea shortly after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the possible shortage, advising frequent commuters to keep their stored value or Beep cards while their provider looks for new alternative suppliers of the chipsets.

A stored value card is a type of electronic card that can be pre-loaded with money and used in LRT-1, LRT-2, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), or even several buses operating within Metro Manila. But DOTr Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez earlier advised these rail systems to brace for the possible shortage of these cards amid chips production deficit worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

READ: DOTr: Brace for Beep Card shortage

“Humihingi ng pang-unawa ang pamunuan ng LRTA sa mga pasahero hinggil sa inaasahang kakulangan ng mga Stored Value Card o Beep Card na ginagamit sa pagsakay sa LRT-1, LRT-2, at MRT-3,” the LRTA said on its official Twitter page Friday.

(The management of the LRTA is seeking for understanding from the commuters about the anticipated shortage on Stored Value Card o Beep Card being used in riding LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.)

“Naghahanap na ng ibang mapagkukunan ng supply ng Beep Cards ang AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) makaraang magkaproblema sa paggawa ng electronic chips na nakapaloob sa mga Beep Cards.  Pinapayuhan ang mga pasaherong may hawak ng Beep Cards na ingatan ang mga ito,” it added.

(AF Payments Inc. is now looking for other suppliers of the Beep Cards after encountering problems with the creation of electronic chips placed inside Beep Cards. Commuters still holding Beep Cards are urged to keep them safe.)

Stored value cards are deemed important by commuters, especially students and workers who need to get to work or schools as fast as possible. By using stored value cards, commuters may avoid long queues at ticketing lines as they can reload these cards at convenience stores and other shops prior to riding the train.

The LRTA said that as of now commuters can still purchase single journey cards at ticketing stations and ticket vending machines.

“Samantala, maaari namang makabili ng Single Journey Ticket sa mga Ticketing Vending Machines (TVM) at sa Passenger Assistance Office sa mga Istasyon.  Maraming salamat po,” it noted.

(Meanwhile, commuters can buy Single Journey Ticket at the Ticketing Vending Machines and at the Passenger Assistance Office at the stations.  Thank you very much.)

KGA