MRT-3 goes cashless fares

Passengers on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) can now pay for fares by simply tapping their Mastercard credit, debit, or prepaid cards directly on contactless turnstiles. The new system, effective Friday, eliminates the need for cash or stored-value cards.

The tap-to-pay feature also works with compatible e-wallets on NFC-enabled Android smartphones, offering commuters more convenient and flexible options for daily travel.

With over 13 million people in Metro Manila relying on public transport, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the upgrade to a contactless payment system is expected to reduce queues, speed up boarding and support the government’s shift to more efficient and digitally enabled mobility.

Additionally, an open-loop payment system allows riders to use existing bank cards or digital wallets instead of proprietary transit cards.

The system also enhances commuter security with Mastercard’s built-in fraud protection technology.