22/01/2026
Dear malls and tolls:
I think I have a solution for your parking bottlenecks and (non) RFID headaches. It’s time to replace those cash lanes and go tellerless by adopting the “GCash Commute” model.
Hear me out.
This isn’t a sponsored post. We really don’t care if you use Maya, GoTyme, or any other e-wallet; the platform doesn’t matter, the protocol does. I cite GCash only because its success in the MRT-3 is a proven “proof of concept” that is already saving thousands of commuters from daily friction. And after trying it myself, I believe the same technology can solve our parking and tollway problems.
The tech is elegant in its simplicity:
Generate a QR code on your app upon entry. Scan it to lift the barrier. The system logs your ID and entry time, verifies your balance, and only deducts the fee when you scan out at the exit.
Simple. Painless. Efficient.
Why does this matter?
Every parking queue represents idling engines, wasted fuel, and cascading traffic. MRT-3 handles hundreds of thousands of rides daily, with mobile payments powering a growing share of that volume. The technology is built, tested, and already sitting in 94 million Filipinos’ pockets.
For malls: You get the same revenue with faster collection. No more lines, no more lost thermal tickets, and no more hunting for a centralized payment machine or lining up at the exit fumbling with change.
For tollways: This is a solution for the cash lanes because E-wallet adoption covers the accessibility gap that RFID hardware currently leaves behind.
So the only barrier left is institutional inertia.
Share if you agree
