Beep provider confident to meet card demand amid chip shortage

MANILA: Following reports of a potential scarcity due to manufacturing issues, the provider of Beep card — a stored value card frequently used in trains and some buses in the National Capital Region (NCR) – is sure that they will be able to satisfy the current demand for their cards.

AF Payments, Inc. (AFPI) stated in a statement that it is still looking for producers who could complete the production of Beep cards. “We are confident that we can still supply the present demand on the rails and are hopeful that production will normalize by the end of the year,” AFPI was quoted as saying in the Philippines News Agency (PNA). 

As a result of "global chip supply chain concerns" and the return of in-person instruction, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) informed public transportation operators (PTO) last week to prepare for a coming shortage of Beep cards.

In order to ease commuters' concerns, the DOTr asked Beep cardholders to take good care of their cards and for PTOs to make the appropriate adjustments in regulating the sale of their cards.

At present, Beep cards are used to pay fares at the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), some city and provincial buses, modern jeepneys, ferries, tollways and some retail establishments.

As of June, the AFPI reported the sale of around 8.5 million Beep cards with transactions worth P32.8 billion processed through its automated fare collection system.

Photos from AF Payments Inc.

Also read: Beep cardholders to enjoy discounted fares, more exclusive benefits