As much as we all want to stay at home, there are instances when we need to go out to buy essentials or even report to work. Since not everyone has the luxury to stay and work from home, we might as well share another way to help keep ourselves safe during commutes within the Metro. Aside from wearing face masks, disinfecting, and bringing alcohol all the time, we should also start observing contactless transactions!

Digital financial services leader PayMaya Philippines recently partnered with beep™ to provide commuters a safer way to load up their beep™ cards for train and select bus payments around Manila. Commuters can now enjoy a safe and contactless commute by simply purchasing beep™ load packages via the PayMaya app. With this method, we no longer need face-to-face interactions with the teller, as well as exchange of cash –which may contribute to the spread of the virus. 

There are three load packages to choose from: P100, P250, and P500 with an additional P5 convenience fee. To buy a load package on PayMaya, simply follow these steps: 

1. Tap treats on the app homepage 
2. Select a beep™ card load package 
3. Input your beep™ card number, then tap continue 
4. Wait for a purchase confirmation in-app and via SMS 
5. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the load package.  

Once the beep™ card is loaded, it can already be used on LRT 1, LRT 2, MRT 3, as well as in Point-to-Point (P2P) and Metro Manila city buses. 

Apart from PayMaya, you can also reload your beep™ cards through select Smart Padala agents in your neighborhood for a quick and convenient transaction. Here’s how you can do it:  

1. Go to your trusted Smart Padala agent and ask if beep load packages are available. 
2. Give the beep™ card account number and load amount. You can load P100, P250, and P500. 
3. Pay for the load amount with the additional P10 service fee. 
4. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the purchased load.

PayMaya has previously announced its support to the directive released by the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board mandating the use of contactless payments in public utility vehicles as part of the measures in what is dubbed as the “new normal.” 

In June, it has entered into an agreement ride-hailing app hirna and its partner taxi drivers to be able to accept cashless payments from its customers via PayMaya QR.  

*PayMaya, a mobile payment account, serves as a virtual prepaid card for paying bills, shopping online, and ordering food. This is what I use as a credit card since I honestly don’t want to get one! You can download the app via App Store/Playstore or read more about it here.

For updates on our latest discoveries within (and outside) the Metro, don’t forget to follow Manila Millennial on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram! Keep safe, everyone!