Beep Card Announces Removal of SVUs and ERDs in Train Stations

AF Payments Inc., the operator of the beep card system, announced the removal of all Stored Value Updaters (SVUs) and Express Renewal Devices (ERDs) across all rail stations. This is because the machines are apparently still using 3G technology.

The SVUs and ERDs are the machines located in LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 in the Philippines.

Since telecommunications providers have fully phased out 3G services in favor of faster networks, the machines are no longer operational and require a hardware upgrade to support 5G technology.

While the small standalone machines are gone, commuters can still manage their cards through these alternatives:

• Mobile App: Users with NFC-enabled smartphones can check their balance using the beep app.
• Station Machines: Traditional Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) and Point of Sale (POS) tellers at station windows remain fully functional for loading and balance checks.

What do you think of this change?