5 Powerful Thesis Topics on MRT-3’s New Tap-and-Go Fare System

Explore these 5 strong research ideas based on MRT-3’s tap-and-go fare system. Ideal for students in engineering, IT, or public admin. Tackle real issues in urban transport with these thesis-worthy topics.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Realyn Manalo

6/27/20251 min read

Source: GMA News Online

Let me convince you to make this a thesis.
Picture this. You’re running late. The MRT is packed. The line to buy a ticket is endless. But now, with one tap of your debit card, you’re through the gates and on your way. That’s the future the Department of Transportation is promising with its pilot test of automated fare collection carousels on MRT-3. No cash. No apps. Just tap and ride.

But here’s what’s really wrong. Nobody knows if this change will work. Will people actually use it. Will it reduce wait times. Will it make commuters feel safer, more satisfied, more in control. Or is it just another headline that looks good but does nothing. We don’t need more PR. We need proof. You can be the one to give it.

Who Can Use These Topics

This research is ideal for students and professionals pursuing the following courses or strands:

College Programs:

Transportation Engineering
Public Administration
Information Technology
Business Administration
Communication

Senior High School Strands:

STEM
ABM
HUMSS
ICT

5 Thesis Topic Ideas

1.Passenger Satisfaction and the Use of Card-Based Fare Collection in MRT-3

This research explores if tap-and-go payment systems improve commuter experience.

Target Respondents

MRT-3 passengers
MRT-3 customer service staff

2.Wait Time and the Implementation of Automated

Fare Collection in MRT-3

This study investigates how long passengers wait before and after the AFC pilot.

Target Respondents

MRT-3 commuters during peak hours
Station managers

3.Commuter Trust and the Reliability of Automated

Fare Collection Systems

This study examines if commuters trust tap-based systems for daily travel.

Target Respondents

Regular MRT-3 users
Transportation tech developers

4.Card Accessibility and Commuter Participation

in Cashless MRT-3 Payments

This explores whether people have access to the cards needed to use the system.

Target Respondents

Low-income MRT-3 users
Financial service providers

5.Fare Collection Accuracy and MRT-3's Shift to Tap-Based Entry

This examines whether AFC systems reduce ticket fraud and manual error.

Target Respondents

MRT-3 finance and auditing staff
Ticketing personnel