Students, Seniors, PWDs Left Waiting as Concessionary beep™ Card Launch Fails

The first day of the concessionary beep™ card release for students, PWDs, and seniors was supposed to make commuting easier. Instead, it became another example of how inefficient our government services can be.

On September 20, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the rollout would start at 10 AM. But by past noon at Fernando Poe Jr. (Roosevelt) Station, not a single card had been issued. Station staff said they had no cards because the supply was still stuck at LRT Central Station.

This was not the first delay. The program was originally set for September 15 but was pushed back to September 20 for “recalibration.” After waiting five more days, commuters expected things to run smoothly. What they got instead was confusion, wasted time, and more empty promises.

Students, seniors, and PWDs, groups who rely on fare discounts the most, were left waiting without clear answers. For many of them, every peso saved counts. It is unacceptable that after all the announcements and delays, the government still failed to deliver on time.

The DOTr and beep™ owe the public an explanation. Seniors, students, and PWDs should not be made to suffer because of poor planning and weak coordination. If the government cannot even handle the simple task of distributing cards properly, how can the public trust them with bigger responsibilities?