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Instead of loading money onto a separate travel 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 gate, eliminating the need to buy a one-way ticket or reload a voice card.
The electronic payment system is available at all 13 LRT2 stations, Visa announced on Monday, July 13.
In addition to physical Visa cards, travelers can pay using near field communication or NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones.
The project was completed by Visa in collaboration 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, especially during peak hours.
A Visa card is basically used as a passenger ticket. Instead of loading money onto a separate travel 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 standard bank cards and digital wallets directly on public transport.
Visa previously helped introduce contactless payments on Metro Rail Line 3 (MRT3) and on bus systems outside Metro Manila, including Cebu, Mandaue, and Bacolod.
Mastercard has been pursuing similar projects. It is is partnered with beep service provider AF Payments in 2024 and launched its “Tap & Go” payment service at MRT3 stations in July 2025, allowing passengers to use Mastercard credit cards, debit and contactless prepaid cards. The upgraded MRT3 gates also accept Visa cards and QR payments. – Rappler.com
