GCash Now Works on EDSA Busway Buses

Another cashless option has arrived for EDSA Busway commuters. Selected buses operating along EDSA are now accepting GCash payments, allowing passengers to pay fares using their mobile phones instead of cash.

The rollout was introduced at PITX as part of the government’s effort to improve the everyday commute. Transport officials said adding digital payments gives riders more flexibility, especially during busy hours when paying with cash can slow things down.

Using GCash on the bus is straightforward. Passengers open the app, tap scan to pay, scan the QR code on the SoundPay device carried by the conductor, enter the fare, and confirm the transaction. There are no added charges for using GCash, and discounted fares for students, senior citizens, and persons with disability still apply.

Around 260 buses on the EDSA Busway are currently equipped with the SoundPay device. The setup will run as a one year pilot as part of a larger plan to test a national automatic fare collection system that reduces cash handling and speeds up payments.

Officials involved in the launch also addressed security concerns, saying the system uses strong protection measures to keep transactions safe. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas added that digital payments help ensure exact fare collection and faster transfers to operators.

While having GCash as another payment option is a welcome move, I personally find it less practical. The app can be slow at times and depends heavily on a stable internet connection, which is not always reliable on the road. For me, the return of beep Card payments would have been a more efficient priority, especially for faster tap and go boarding.