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Commuters queue to board trains at the LRT-2 Masinag Station in Antipolo on February 1, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
Instead of loading money onto a separate transport card, the appropriate fare is charged directly to the debit or credit card tapped
MANILA, Philippines – Commuters using the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2) can now pay for their train rides by tapping their Visa cards at the fare gates, removing the need to buy a single-journey ticket or reload a beep card.
The contactless payment system is available across all 13 LRT2 stations, Visa announced on Monday, July 13.
Aside from physical Visa cards, commuters may pay using supported near-field communication or NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones.
The project was completed by Visa in partnership with the Department of Transportation, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, and other industry stakeholders.
More than 160,000 passengers use the LRT2, which runs from Recto in Manila to Antipolo in Rizal. The new payment option could help shorten lines at ticket booths and machines, particularly during peak hours.
The Visa card essentially serves as the passenger’s ticket. Instead of loading money onto a separate transport card, the appropriate fare is charged directly to the debit or credit card tapped.
The rollout is part of the government’s broader effort to introduce “open-loop” fare collection systems, which allow passengers to use ordinary bank cards and digital wallets directly on public transportation.
Visa had earlier helped introduce contactless payments on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) and on bus systems outside Metro Manila, including in Cebu, Mandaue, and Bacolod.
Mastercard has been pursuing similar projects. It partnered with beep operator AF Payments in 2024 and launched its “Tap & Go” payment service at MRT3 stations in July 2025, allowing passengers to use contactless Mastercard credit, debit, and prepaid cards. MRT3’s upgraded gates also accept Visa cards and QR payments. – Rappler.com
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