Published : Wednesday, July 20, 2011 21:54 Article Views : 146 Written
by : Darwin G. Amojelar, Senior Reporter
A WHOLLY owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom Inc. on Wednesday said it
plans to revive its ticket less entry service for Metro Manial's mass
rail transit systems.
In a briefing, Paolo Eugenio Baltao, president of G-Xchange Inc. told
reporters that the company is working with the government to bring back
ticket less entry for Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 and Metro Rail
Transit Line 3 using GCash.
"We have the intention to implement it. It's in our radar, for possible
application for our GCash," Baltao said.
In 2006, GXI implemented G-Pass, an alternative way to enter the MRT 3
using a wireless radio frequency identification chip.
G-Pass is a stored value chip that is tapped on a sensor lodged at the
gates of the MRT 3. The RFID-equipped chip can be reloaded using GCash.
The G-Pass service was phased out in 2009 because of problems in the
platform.
Baltao said GXI will improve upon the G-Pass service.
"I assure you, you will like the experience because we learned from the
past," he added.
The Department of Transportation and Communications plans to bid out the
P1.73 billion Common Automatic Fare Collection System for the three
railway lines in Metro Manila.
The project involves the supply and installation of a contact less
collection system with an open platform for expansion to other rail lines.
The winning bidder will finance, install and maintain the AFCS for 10 years.
Baltao expects to increase GCash users once the company implements the
ticket less system for the three rail services "as soon as we can."
With a million active users, GCash is an "electronic wallet" that allows
remittance of cash and payments—including bills, donations and online
purchases—through text messaging.
GXI handles more than $100 million worth of GCash transaction a month.
Globe shares jumped to P928.50 apiece on Wednesday from P906 the day before.
