EDSA Bus Carousel rider questions e-wallet payment rollout

February 3, 2026 – 4:56 PM

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A commuter has raised concerns over the implementation of cashless payments on the

EDSA Bus Carousel

Aleck Bautista

“DOTr launched their cashless payment system using GCash, and grabe ‘yung advertising — every bus and carousel station has posters and signage saying that GCash is accepted,” Bautista said.

“However, yesterday I rode the bus carousel four times and all the conductors told me the same thing: ‘Hindi po kami tumatanggap ng GCash,’” he added.

“Maganda sana ‘yung cashless payment program ng Department of Transportation, pero the problem is, hindi naman ini-implement ng mga bus operators and conductors,” the commuter further said.

Commuter reactions

Despite his criticism, Bautista acknowledged the efficiency and affordability of the bus carousel.

“Pero kudos sa Bus Carousel dahil ang bilis and ang mura pumunta ng BGC [Bonifacio Global City]. Kesa magdala ako ng sasakyan na sobrang traffic. Buti pa sa BGC Bus, tumatanggap sila ng Beep card at GCash,” Bautista continued.

“And still, hindi pa rin sila nag-a-accept ng GCash,” Bautista

wrote

with emojis of a laughing face and a face palm expression.

said.

“Mabagal ding magbayad ‘pag GCash, lalo na ‘pag ‘di pa nakabukas ang app agad,” another

user

said, referring to how one relies on cellular data or public wi-fi to open the e-wallet.

“Unfortunate, pero mahirap din kasi ata i-track ‘yan. As for BGC bus, hirap kapag nasaktuhan mo na offline ‘yung bus mismo, GCash QR lang meron,” wrote a different

commuter

user

Some commuters pushed for wider use of

beep cards

as an alternative. The beep card is mainly used by commuters of the MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 to pay for their fares without using cash.

“VISOR, please be our voice to Department of Transportation – Philippines for bringing back the beep card payment to Bus carousel kesa ‘yang GCash!!! Utang na loob!” a

exclaimed.

“Better if beep card na lang din. Real hassle-free ‘yung sa BGC ‘pag may beep card ka,” said another

user

Official position

In December, it was

reported

that bus carousel commuters can now pay for their fares through GCash, with a QR Code available from the conductor.

“This is going to be convenient to the commuters, and it’s very fast. We pay the exact fare and (the fare will go directly to the bus operator),” Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor

Mamerto Tangonan

said before.

Department of Transportation

said that there are 206 busway units operating with GCash SoundPay devices.

Paying through e-wallets were especially popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, when cashless transactions were implemented as preventive measures against transmitting the virus