More than 50 local and international firms have expressed interest in the Philippine Automated Fare Collection System (PAFCS) concession, signaling strong investor confidence in the government’s transport modernization program, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
The interest was generated during a recent market sounding activity for the PAFCS, one of the government’s key infrastructure initiatives under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.
The project aims to establish a unified and interoperable fare collection system across multiple modes of public transportation in the country, including railways, buses, and future transit systems.
Under the proposed system, commuters may eventually use a single payment platform through fare cards, QR codes, mobile phones, and other smart devices for seamless travel across different transport networks.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the initiative is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure and improve commuter experience nationwide.
“Millions of Filipinos commute every day, and DOTr is fully committed to building a fare collection system that is seamless, secure, and future-ready that every commuter can rely on,” Lopez said.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the high turnout during the market sounding activity reflected continued investor confidence in the Philippines despite global economic challenges.
“Over fifty companies in a market sounding is very encouraging, and we look forward to a successful tender and award of this PAFCS concession,” Batan said.
Participating firms came from several countries, including Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and the Philippines.
The DOTr said the nationwide automated fare system is expected to improve efficiency in fare collection while making public transportation more convenient and accessible for commuters.
The initiative is also linked to the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP), which includes its own Automated Fare Collection System component and a broader Intelligent Transport Systems contract.
The DPTMP, supported by financing from the Asian Development Bank, aims to modernize Davao City’s public transport network through a safer, more reliable, and more efficient transport system.
Officials said the Davao project forms part of broader efforts to modernize public transportation systems in the country through interoperable and technology-driven solutions.