AF Payments Inc., a consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has expanded its loading network through a partnership with Bayad Center.
Under the partnership between the two companies, beep cardholders may load at select Bayad Center outlets, including Tambunting, Villarica and SM Business Centers, all of which are part of Bayad Center’s payment collection network.
The beep card is the new contactless payment solution developed to make the payment process more convenient across all three rail lines—LRT Line 1, LRT 2 and MRT3—as it allows seamless transfers from one rail to another.
“After the full implementation in all three rail lines, our second order of business is expanding our loading network. We are committed to helping commuters save time, and an important part of this is to find convenient loading points outside of the stations,” AF Payments Inc. chief executive and president Peter Maher said.
“Bayad Center is the perfect starting point because of their huge network, covering virtually all of Metro Manila,” he said.
Bayad Center president and chief executive Manuel Lorenzo Tuason said the 1.5 million daily train riders were the same people who trusted the company for their bills.
“With more than 1,000 payment collection sites within Metro Manila alone, we are confident that Bayad Center can help our commuters in their daily grind,” Tuason said
Maher added AF Payments would be increasing to more branches and other partner establishments throughout the year.
“We are also very close to expanding usage of the beep card to buses, toll roads, and retail,” he said.
AF Payments earlier teamed up with Froehlich Tours, HM Transport and Citylink Coach Services for its first venture into buses serving commuters within Metro Manila.
The partnership covers the Trinoma to Makati and SM North EDSA to SM Megamall for Froehlich Tours; Airport Loop for HM Transport; and Eastwood City, Uptown Bonifacio, San Lorenzo Place, McKinley Hill and Newport City for Citylink Coach Services.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. earlier said the beep card would be rolled out in the second quarter at the North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavie Expressway.