-
More than 50 local and international firms participated in the joint market sounding activity conducted by the Department of Transportation and the Asian Development Bank for the Philippine Automated Fare Collection System concession project
-
The project will be undertaken under a Public-Private Partnership scheme
-
Participating firms came from Asia, Europe, the US, and the Philippines
-
The PAFCS aims to establish an interoperable fare collection system covering rail, buses, and future transport modes
-
The system will support cards, QR codes, mobile phones, and other smart payment devices
-
The activity also covered the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project
More than 50 local and international firms participated in the joint market sounding activity conducted on May 5, 2026 by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Asian Development Bank for a national automated fare collection system that will be undertaken through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
The activity, according to a DOTr release, also covered the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP), including its Automated Fare Collection System component and the broader Intelligent Transport Systems contract.
READ: Marcos leads launch of Davao public transport project
Participating firms hailed from 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 Philippine Automated Fare Collection System (PAFCS) is envisioned as a single, interoperable platform covering rail, bus, and future transport modes, allowing commuters to pay using cards, QR codes, mobile phones, or other smart devices across different transit systems.
The DPTMP, funded by an ADB loan, serves as a pilot program to build a safe, reliable, and efficient transit system in Davao City. Its fare collection package will develop an interoperable payment solution designed to improve the rider experience and lay the groundwork for a scalable model applicable to other Philippine cities.
The initiative is being pursued under a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to modernize public transportation infrastructure and streamline commuter transactions.
DOTr undersecretary for railways Timothy John Batan welcomed the turnout as an indicator of market confidence.
“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, noting that the strong participation reflects investor confidence in the Philippines despite challenging global headwinds.
Transportation secretary Giovanni Lopez framed the modernization drive around the needs of everyday commuters. “Millions of Filipinos commute everyday and DOTr is fully committed to building a fare collection system that is seamless, secure, and future-ready that every commuter can rely on,” he said.
READ: DOTr’s road, rail officials ordered to take public transport weekly
