THE Click technology and innovation advocacy group has lauded the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) move to defer the implementation of the revised guidelines on toll expressways, which were set to take effect on August 31.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-01 which postponed the effectivity of the new guidelines to October 1, 2024. The memorandum was also signed by Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Executive Director Alvin Carullo of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
Lawyer Nick Conti, convenor of the Click party-list and chief executive officer of Capstone-Intel Corp., thanked Bautista for listening to a public appeal to delay the effectivity of the new rules.
“I commend Secretary Bautista for his decision to defer the implementation of the new tollway guidelines. This extension allows for a more comprehensive review and enhancement of our toll collection systems, ensuring that motorists are not unduly penalized due to the shortcomings of the current RFID technology,” said Conti.
The revised guidelines update the responsibilities of the LTO, TRB, DOTr, tollway concessionaires, and users, and introduce penalties for motorists who have not installed electronic toll collection (ETC) devices or have insufficient RFID load balance.
Conti had previously called on the TRB to focus on modernizing toll collection systems before imposing penalties on motorists.
“The persistent congestion on our toll roads, especially in Metro Manila, is largely due to defective RFID readers and the lack of a uniform payment system across various tollway concessionaires,” he said, as he stressed the need for the TRB to adopt state-of-the-art toll collection technology similar to those used in countries like Singapore, Germany, and the United States, where toll systems are seamless and efficient.
“Modernizing our toll collection systems will not only improve efficiency and convenience for motorists but also ensure accurate and transparent toll collection, which is crucial for revenue generation and road maintenance,” he added.
Conti also highlighted the importance of a standardized toll collection system across all toll roads to avoid the need for multiple RFID tags or compatibility issues. “A unified system will benefit all road users, ensuring a smoother and more consistent travel experience,” he said.
With the 30-day deferment, Conti urged concerned agencies and tollway operators to use the time to fine-tune expressway operations and intensify their public information campaign to allow tollway users to comply with the new guidelines.
“This is an opportunity for the TRB to address the existing issues with our toll systems and to align with global best practices for toll collection,” he said.
The Click party-list advocates for the integration of emerging technologies, innovation, and comprehensive legislation to enhance various aspects of life, governance, business, diplomacy, and education in the Philippines.
