The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) targets to implement the full cashless toll collection system, along with the planned unified electronic toll collection system, within the year.
Alvin Carullo, TRB executive director, in an interview on the sidelines of an event for NLEX Corp. expressed optimism that the cashless toll collection system will be implemented across all expressways this year.
“We will simultaneously implement cashless together with the interoperability. The target is within the year,” Carullo said.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon has suspended the implementation of the cashless system originally set for March 15 to allow for further review, ensuring the system operates smoothly.
Carullo said the TRB is preparing to submit a position paper to the DOTr, which will review and evaluate the implementation of the cashless system.
With the cashless tollways system, all motor vehicles traveling along the toll expressways are mandated to have valid electronic toll collection (ETC) device or radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker installed.
The toll operators have to comply with the 2024 minimum performance standards and apecifications which enumerate key performance indicators for the toll collection system as well as other operations-related matters. Failure to do so will warrant the imposition of penalties and other sanctions against them.
Meanwhile, the interoperability of the tollway systems will enable motorists to use a single RFID across all expressways.
“We will be conducting what we call proof of concept (POC) testing scheduled for August to September. The final, fourth POC testing will take place during this period,” Carullo said.
Last year, the TRB, along with the DOTr, Department of Public Works and Highways and the tollway concessionaires and operators, conducted the third POC testing for the full interoperability project to ensure its smooth implementation.
The first phase of the country’s interoperability project began in 2020, allowing San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) RFID to be used on Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.’s (MPTC) expressways.
Phase 2 of the interoperability project started in August last year, enabling MPTC’s Easytrip RFID users to register their RFID stickers for use on SMC’s Autosweep.
Based on the latest data from the TRB, 97 percent of expressway users already use an ETC device/RFID sticker for toll payments.
With the reimplementation of the cashless/contactless toll collection policy, the TRB is urging the remaining 3 percent of motorists who still pay in cash to switch to RFID for a faster, more efficient and seamless toll experience.
