PLDT mulls PayMaya Visa card extension to toll, retail payments

MANILA, Philippines - After the introduction of the PayMaya Visa card for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc. are looking to make the card available for toll roads as well within the year.

PLDT and Smart chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters the card could be used for Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s tollways within the year.

“I think (the card can be used for) tollways end of this year and retail trade next year,” he said.

MPIC is engaged in toll operations through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and its subsidiaries Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC).

MNTC operates the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, while CIC manages the operations of the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

The PayMaya Visa card for the LRT and MRT was launched last week.

The card allows individuals to easily purchase train fare for the LRT and MRT.

It likewise allows users to make purchases online and in physical stores.

As a special limited offer until the end of the year, commuters can avail of the PayMaya Visa Card with beep for free plus a bonus P30 beep stored value just by loading their PayMaya account with P100 in PayMaya activation booths in selected LRT and MRT stations.

After the rollout of digital offerings in music, video, payment system and gaming, Pangilinan said the company is looking to provide services on financial technology next.

PLDT is focusing on providing digital innovations for customers as it looks for new revenue sources amid the decline in traditional businesses such as voice calls and text messaging.

PLDT expects its third quarter revenues to post a slight increase from the same period last year based on an initial review covering the first two months of the quarter.