BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board chairman, Martin Delgra III, will lead the launching of the first-ever Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) of Vallacar Transit Inc. on June 14, at the Ceres Liner North Terminal in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City.
Company media relations officer, Jade Seballos, yesterday said the AFCS is a cashless, contactless, and efficient way of collecting fares from passengers, and is aimed at improving urban public transportation by providing payment option to the riding public.
Seballos added the pilot route for the AFCS will be Bacolod to Victorias.
She also said that Delgra and regional director Richard Sosmeña will give the opening messages, that will be followed by a briefing on the implementation of AFCS.
It will be followed by a series of messages from VTI president and chief executive officer, Leo Rey Yanson, Tugade, and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino.
Yanson said the tap cards will be distributed free of charge to the riding public, with the load to be paid by the commuters in the terminal booth.
He emphasized the need for the continuous improvement of the company in terms of convenience, quality, and affordable service to the riding public.
The DOTr, in a statement it issued, said that AFCS is a more secure payment for the passengers, as they do not have to carry cash to pay for their fares, especially during the early mornings when spare change may be difficult to come by.
“We adhere to the modernization program of the transport sector under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte. The pandemic cannot stop us from delivering good service to our stakeholders,” Yanson said. “In the future, we are giving rebates to the passengers or exploring the possibility of loyalty award points to maximize the riding experience of our passengers,” he added.*
