THE Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner buses, is launching its Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) at the North Terminal in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City on June 14, 2021.
The VTI, in a press statement Monday, June 7, said the pilot implementation for the AFCS will be for its units plying between Bacolod and Victorias.
The automated collection system, first in Negros Occidental, is a cashless, contactless, and efficient way of collecting fares from passengers.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor, along with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra and Western Visayas Regional Director Richard Osmena, will grace the activity.
According to the DOTr, the AFCS aims to improve urban public transportation by providing payment options to the riding public.
The agency said the program is created to ensure interoperability and mutual trust among the passengers and the transportation companies.
"This will be a more secure payment for the passengers, as they do not have to carry cash to pay for their fares, especially during the early mornings where spare change may be difficult to come by," it said, adding that "they just need to tap their cards and enjoy the ride."
Leo Rey Yanson, president and chief executive officer of VTI, emphasized the need for the continuous improvement of the company in terms of convenience, quality, and affordable service to the riding public.
Yanson said this is embodied in the legacy of his late father Ricardo Yanson Sr., who is the founder of the biggest bus conglomerate in the country, the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC).
"We adhere to the modernization program of the transport sector under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte," he said, adding that "the pandemic cannot stop us from delivering good service to our stakeholders."
The bus firm top official also said that tap cards will be distributed for free to the riding public.
The load, meanwhile, will be paid by the commuters in the terminal booth.
"In the future, we are giving rebates to the passengers and exploring possibilities of loyalty award points to maximize the riding experience of our passengers," he added.