Are they really ready? Full cashless toll payments coming back soon
One of the biggest and hottest issues that appeared in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit unrelated to any virus or disease, was the implementation of full cashless payments on toll fees on Philippine expressways. Met with heavy flak, this plan was pushed back and looks like we’re gonna be dealing with it again soon.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) recently announced that starting this coming September 1, 2023, another dry-run for contactless (or cashless) toll collection will be implemented on expressways. This will run for two (2) months.
It would be recalled that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued Department Order No. 2020-12 dated August 13, 2020 requiring cashless or contactless transactions for all vehicles travelling on toll expressways. The purpose was initially as a measure to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 and subsequently as a means to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic within the expressways. However, due to numerous complaints received during the implementation of the said program, brought about by various constraints and glitches in the RFID systems, the DOTr issued an addendum dated January 29, 2021 allowing vehicles with no RFID stickers, and requiring cash lanes in all toll plazas, which remains effective until now.
Subsequently, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) announced that it will be implementing cashless toll payments in select toll plazas in expressways it operates.
MPTC currently operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), C5-CAVITEX South Link Expressway, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and NLEX Connector Road. These expressways mainly accept payments from Easytrip RFID.
In line with this, the following toll plazas under MPTC’s management will only be accepting cashless payments:
North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
- Ciudad de Victoria Exit (NB and SB)
- Sta. Rita Exit (NB)
- Pulilan Exit (NB and SB)
- San Simon Exit (NB)
- Mexico Exit
- Dau Exit (SB)
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
- Dolores Exit
- SFEX
Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
- Technopark Toll Plaza
- Laguna Boulevard A Toll Plaza
CAVITEX-C5 South Link
- Taguig (C5) Toll Plaza
- Merville Toll Plaza
The same goes for expressways under the management of SMC Tollways of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), as well as Villar Group’s Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI) which accepts payments from Autosweep RFID.
SMC Tollways currently operates the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway), Metro Manila Skyway, Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). On the other hand, PAVI operates the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX).
In line with the TRB’s directive, the following toll plazas which accept Autosweep RFID as payment will be fully cashless:
NAIA Expressway (NAIAX)
- NAIAX Main Toll Plaza
Metro Manila Skyway Stage 1 & 2
- Nichols Entry
- Nichols Exit
Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3
- Del Monte Toll Plaza (NB)
South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
- Mamplasan Exit (NB)
- Silangan Exit (SB)
STAR Tollway
- Tanauan Entry (NB)
Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX)
- Daang Hari Toll Plaza
Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)
- Rosario Toll Plaza
Any toll plazas not mentioned in the lists above will continue to accept both cash and cashless (RFID) toll payments. It’s also good to note that vehicles with no RFID sticker passing through cashless only toll plazas will be required to install an RFID sticker.
In addition, once barrierless toll payments are implemented, vehicles with no RFID stickers or with insufficient balances in their accounts will be monitored through their license plates and will be charged once their vehicle’s registration is up for renewal.
This certainly is a little throwback to the dark times of the year 2020. With all that, do you think we really are ready for a full cashless toll system?
