Cashless toll collection dry-run to start next month

The national government has renewed its thrust towards a cashless payment system on tollways as it ordered concessionaires and operators to conduct a dry-run for it beginning next month.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said that the two-month Contactless Program dry-run shall be implemented starting September 1. Such an initiative would ensure the program’s smooth and efficient re-implementation.

According to the agency, the latest move is in line with TRB’s support and compliance with the Resolution passed by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation calling for the re-implementation of the Contactless Program.

To recall, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued Department Order No. 2020-12 dated August 13, 2020 that requires cashless or contactless transactions for all vehicles travelling on toll expressways. The aforementioned directive is aimed at reducing the possible transmission of COVID-19 and subsequently, served as a way to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic within the expressways.

However, the transportation department issued an addendum dated January 29, 2021 that allowed vehicles with no radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers and requiring cash lanes in all toll plazas after receiving complaints about the glitches in the system. The aforementioned add-on remains effective as of the moment.

Below are the following toll plazas that are qualified to participate in the dry-run:

Easytrip subscribers:

• North Luzon Expressway: All toll plazas
• Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway: All toll plazas
• Cavite-Laguna Expressway: All toll plazas
• Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway: C5 Southlink
  • Taguig toll plazas
  • Merville toll plaza

Autosweep subscribers:

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway: All toll plazas
• South Metro Manila Skyway, Stages 1 and 2
  • Skyway Elevated Alpha and Bravo
  • C5 Exit and Entry
  • Nichols Entry
  • Nichols Exit
  • Merville Exit
  • Bicutan Entry southbound and northbound
  • Sucat Exit southbound and northbound
  • Alabang southbound Exit
• South Luzon Expressway
  • Filinvest Exit and Entry
  • Alabang northbound and southbound
  • Mamplasan northbound
  • Sta. Rosa northbound
  • ABI southbound and northbound
  • Cabuyao southbound
  • Silangan southbound
  • Batino southbound Exit
  • Calamba-Turbina southbound Exit
  • Calamba northbound Exit
  • Canlubang southbound Entry
  • Calamba southbound Entry
  • Calamba-Real northbound Entry
  • Calamba-Turbina A northbound Entry
• Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway: All toll plazas
• Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3
  • Buendia northbound Entry
  • Buendia southbound Exit
  • Plaza Dilao southbound Entry
  • G. Araneta northbound Entry
  • Quezon Avenue northbound Entry
  • Quezon Avenue northbound Exit
  • Quezon Avenue southbound Entry
  • Del Monte northbound Alpha
• Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway
  • Victoria Toll Plaza
  • Pura Toll Plaza
  • Anao Toll Plaza
  • Pozorrubio Toll Plaza
  • Rosario Toll Plaza

• Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway
  • Sto. Tomas southbound Entry
  • Sto. Tomas northbound Entry
  • Tanauan northbound Entry

Per the agreement between the TRB and concessionaires and operators a first batch of qualified toll plazas will initially form part of the dry-run to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation. Other qualified toll plazas will gradually be included during the dry-run period.

The TRB strongly encourages the tollway users to switch from cash to RFID. For those with existing RFID stickers, they are advised to have their RFID sticker checked if it needs replacement, and that they have sufficient load before they enter the expressway.

Meanwhile, the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) expressed its readiness to reimplement the cashless payment system.

“We support the DOTr's and the TRB's move to make toll collection purely cashless. We believe this move will significantly reduce traffic congestion and waiting times at toll plazas and contribute to a smoother and safer travel experience,” SMC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang said.

Per SMC Infrastructure, it has begun transitioning mixed lanes (cash-accepting lanes) at select toll plazas and exits, to allow for only cashless transactions.

“Our teams are already installing and calibrating RFID scanners and related equipment. We will do everything necessary to ensure that the implementation will go smoothly. If in the course of the dry run period any adjustments have to be made, we will also be ready,” Ang continued. 

SMC shared that motorists without an active RFID sticker will still be allowed to pass, but toll personnel will install one on their vehicle so they can exit at the electronic toll collection (ETC) lane where they are headed. “Toll personnel will only take a photo of the vehicle license plate and secure the motorist’s mobile phone number. Motorists will then need to complete the registration process by supplying other essential information at the Autosweep RFID website,” the company said.

Further, Ang assured motorists that the Autosweep RFID remains a safe, secure, and efficient electronic toll collection system, and its customer service hotline is open daily to help address motorists’ concerns. 

“Our motorists can always reach out to our customer service team to deal with any concern they have regarding their Autosweep accounts. We appeal to our motorists to report any problems they encounter to our help desk, immediately,” Ang said. 

Those with malfunctioning RFID stickers may replace theirs for free, Ang added.  

On the other hand, motorists who will refuse the installation of RFID stickers on their vehicles will have their license plates recorded and tagged and may be issued violation tickets for obstructing traffic. 

Photos from San Miguel Corporation, NLEX Corporation

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