Mastercard & beep™ – Working together to make commuting smoother for everyone

Manila’s public transport system forms part of the lifeblood of our great city, bringing people together—from all parts of the metropolis and from all walks of life—as they make their way to countless destinations across town. 

Over 129 million rides were recorded on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) in 2023, up over 30 percent from 2022—a staggering increase, and a positive sign for future MRT lines. With the population of Manila projected to grow to 16.8 million by the end of this decade, having an efficient public transport system will be crucial to relieving congestion and making life easier for residents and visitors alike.

This is one of the major reasons that Mastercard has teamed up with beep™ to expand contactless payments on BGC and EDSA buses, and MRT-3. Under the partnership’s upcoming pilot program, commuters will be able use their Mastercard prepaid, debit, or credit cards to tap-in and tap-out of public transport the same way they would with their beep™ cards. This step will bring us in line with some of the world’s most successful transit systems, which also offer a mix of electronic payment options—think London, or closer to home, Singapore.

But what does this mean in practice?

It’s a seamless and fast way to pay. Once the pilot scheme rolls out, commuters can simply tap their Mastercard cards at the turnstile or payment terminal, and the fare will automatically be deducted from their account—similar to making a contactless purchase at a store. Without the need to top up or buy one-off tickets, this more streamlined process will reduce wait times, alleviate congestion, and make the entire commuting experience faster and more efficient.

When you use your Mastercard card to pay for trips, the transactions will be underpinned by our extensive cybersecurity technology which mitigates cyber risk across the connected economy. You will be able to pay with Mastercard cards on public transport knowing that it’s backed by the same stringent security measures used to protect all transactions on our payment network from fraud and cyber attacks.

At the same time, it’s not a replacement for beep™ cards. The partnership between Mastercard and beep™ means that both cards can be used to pay for trips. It’s not a case of “one or the other”, but rather it gives commuters additional payment options, offering a more flexible system that caters to a range of consumer preferences.

The option to pay for trips with Mastercard will also make travel easier for international tourists and domestic visitors. In the future, travelers will be able to get off a flight and immediately use their existing prepaid, debit, or credit card to navigate Manila’s public transport system, eliminating the need for special fare cards or local currency. Given that the Philippines saw over 5 million international arrivals in 2023 alone, for many tourists being able to pay with an internationally accepted card will make travelling in Manila a whole lot easier.

We are excited about our upcoming partnership with beep™; expanding the use of contactless payments in Manila’s public transport marks a milestone in the city’s drive to create a more holistic payments ecosystem. Imagine the convenience of using the same card across your entire journey—starting with the metro, stopping for a quick meal and paying with a quick tap, and then hopping on a bus for the final leg of your trip. 

While the partnership is building towards its pilot phase, this is just the beginning of the digitization journey for Manila’s public transit system. As the city continues to grow and adapt, at Mastercard, we’re working to help build transportation systems that have seamlessness at their core. 

Written by: Simon Calasanz, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard

ADVT. 

This article is brought to you by Mastercard.