EDSA Busway now accepts GCash

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) has rolled out cashless fare payments for the EDSA Busway as part of its push to modernize public transport transactions.

“The implementation of cashless payment for EDSA carousel is part of our project to modernize the transport system,” Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said in a media release on Wednesday.

The Transportation department said that online payments through e-wallet platform GCash and QR payment will now be accepted at EDSA carousel system.

“This is going to be convenient to commuters. It is very fast, we pay the exact fare and the payment will go directly to the operator,” said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan.

Data provided by the Transportation department showed that the EDSA Busway served more than 63 million passengers alone in 2024, or about 177,000 commuters daily.

The EDSA Busway, a dedicated bus lane along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, is seen as a crucial step towards a progressive public transportation system with 23 stations operating round-the-clock.

Mr. Lopez said that the agency is working on modernizing the country’s transport system by implementing digital payment options in line with the automatic fare collection system of the government.

“We want to modernize all our transportation systems, while at the same time improving the passenger’s overall experience,” he said.

Earlier this year, the DoTr also launched cashless turnstiles for train lines allowing passengers to pay via GCash QR codes, debit and credit cards and NFC-enabled phones. — Ashley Erika O. Jose