MANILA — LANDBANK has strengthened its push for digital transport solutions with the successful pilot launch of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) for MRT-3.

The new AFCS allows commuters to pay fares by simply tapping their debit, credit, or prepaid Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) cards at upgraded turnstiles—offering a faster and more convenient alternative to traditional single-journey or stored-value cards.

“We are proud to enable smart, secure, and contactless payments for daily commuters and to support the government’s push for digital transport reform. At LANDBANK, we are always ready to partner with both public and private players to scale interoperable payment solutions that improve everyday lives,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz.

Leading the live demonstration were Transportation Secretary Vince B. Dizon, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, Globe Exchange, Inc. (GXI) President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, RCBC President and CEO Reginald Cariaso, and RCBC EVP Lito Villanueva, among others.

LANDBANK serves as the sole acquiring bank and transit payment gateway integrator for the AFCS, ensuring that EMV card payments are authorized, processed, and settled directly into the DOTr’s account. GXI, operator of GCash, deployed and maintains the POS terminals at MRT-3 turnstiles and handles fare computation, reporting, and commuter support.

LANDBANK’s Transit Payment Solution also enables integration across various modes of transport via a centralized payment gateway and settlement system. It supports EMV cards and can connect with other transport operators to enable a nationwide interoperable transit network.

The MRT-3 AFCS pilot is part of the national government’s digitalization agenda under Executive Order No. 170 and the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap, aiming to modernize public services through financial technology and inter-agency collaboration.