Just like other neighboring countries, the Philippine government has expressed the eagerness to expand its cashless operation in its transportation system.

This was following the sealing of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Science and Technology for the utilization of the latter's cashless payment technologies benefitting stakeholders of mass transport systems nationwide.

According to Secretary Jaime Bautista, his agreement with DoST Secretary Renato Solidum seeks to establish a laboratory testing facility located at DoST EPDC Bicutan, Taguig City, and govern the roles and responsibilities of the parties regarding the Certification and Validation Testing of Fare Media and Transit Readers for the Automatic Fare Collection System or AFCS.

Further, the Transportation chief noted that the collaboration will provide several cashless payment technologies for the riding public to experience globally standard transportation done in Asian countries.

"We believe that we need to conform to global standards in terms of everything that we do. I think this is the only way for us to improve our transportation system," he said.

"The DoTr-DoST partnership is a pure showcase of meaningful collaboration and improving and advancing the welfare of all stakeholders for the AFCS in the country," he added.

Under the MoU, the DoTr and DoST will establish state-of-the-art testing equipment and validation facilities for the AFCS National Standards through the Electronics Product Development Center or EPDC managed by DoST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute.

The EPDC is the country's first dedicated government electronics development and one-stop-shop facility that can provide design, prototyping, and testing services for the electronics industry, the MoU further stated.

The transport chief is also looking at the Automated Guideway Transit or AGT, also developed by the DoST, in connecting the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Secretary Bautista explained the said mass transport option will benefit passengers transferring within NAIA Terminals 1 to 4.