The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has backed the expansion of digital fare payments to the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), joining the Department of Transportation (DoTr), the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) in launching the LRT-2 Digital Fare Payments Proof-of-Concept at Legarda Station on 13 July.

The initiative allows commuters to pay for train rides using most debit, credit and prepaid cards, near-field communication (NFC)-enabled mobile wallets and devices, including Google Pay, as well as GCash Commute QR codes. Around 700,000 MySSS cardholders can also use their cards to pay LRT-2 fares, providing an alternative to purchasing tickets.

BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan said the project marks another step toward making digital payments part of Filipinos' everyday lives.

"With a simple tap or scan, a commuter on LRT-2 can now pay their fare digitally, securely, instantly, and without cash. That is a fundamental improvement in how millions of people start their day and an opportunity to bring more Filipinos into the digital economy."

The rollout follows the implementation of digital fare payments at Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the introduction of QR-based payments along the EDSA Busway. Additional public transportation services are expected to be integrated into the DoTr's Automated Fare Collection System project.

The BSP said the initiative is expected to reduce queues, improve the commuting experience and advance its broader goals of promoting financial inclusion and accelerating the country's digital transformation through secure, efficient and accessible digital payment systems.