Cashless toll collection on major expressways to be reimplemented next month

MANILA: The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) is set to reimplement cashless or contactless toll fee collection on major expressways by March 15.

Per the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the aforementioned agency will require toll road users to have a valid Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) device or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker installed on their vehicles.

While motor vehicles without a valid ETC device or RFID sticker will be allowed to enter the toll plaza, they will be required to get a valid tag installed on their rides (through dedicated installation points) before they leave the expressway.

Those entering the toll roads without a valid ETC device or RFID sticker will be handed a Temporary Operator’s Permit or a Show Cause Order for violating the “No Valid ETC Device, No Entry” Policy.

“The Land Transportation Office (LTO), through its deputized personnel, will issue against them either a Temporary Operator’s Permit or Show Cause Order for violating the ‘No Valid ETC Device, No Entry’ Policy under the DOTr/LTO/TRB’s Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, and will be meted the corresponding penalty/ies,” the TRB said.

According to TRB, the aim of the re-implementation of its cashless toll fee collection is to optimize the use of all toll plazas.

Toll concessionaires back TRB

TRB’s decision to reimplement cashless or contactless toll collection is backed by the country’s toll concessionaires.

“We, the toll concessionaires operating the country’s expressways, fully support the government’s initiative to reimplement the Cashless/Contactless Toll Collection Policy through Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001 issued by the DOTr, LTO, and TRB,” the concessionaires said in a joint statement.

“This policy plays a key role in easing traffic at toll plazas, improving safety and convenience for motorists, and optimizing expressway operations,” the companies added.

The concessionaires — which include the likes of SMC Infrastructure, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, and MCX Tollway Incorporated — pointed out that TRB’s latest data show that 97 percent of expressway users already have a valid ETC device or RFID sticker.

On that note, the toll operators encourage the remaining three percent to switch to RFID for a faster, more efficient, and seamless toll experience.

“As toll operators, we are committed to continuously improving our systems to provide safer, faster, and more convenient expressway travel for all,” the concessionaires concluded.

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