MANILA — The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) has assured its
readiness to comply with the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr)
mandate to fully transition to electronic toll collection system, as
the toll lanes along its expressway network are undergoing progressive
conversion to make them RFID-enabled in time for November2020
implementation.
The assurance was made during the virtual media briefing held this
morning on MPTC’s “Road to RFID 100%” campaign, which highlighted the
company’s programs to demonstrate its readiness to shift from cash to
cashless payments.
Roberto V. BontiaPresident and General Manager of MPT South
Corporation and MPTC’s RFID 100 Task Force Head, disclosed that some
segments of MPTC expressways have gradually implemented the
progressive conversion drive. “Around 75% of these lanes are already
RFID-enabled,” he revealed.
Recently, the Philippine Arena toll plaza, Lawang Bato Northbound
Entry, and expansion lanes in Balintawak and Bocaue toll plazas in
NLEX have been converted into exclusive RFID lanes. CALAX also opened
100% RFID interchanges in Laguna Boulevard and Laguna Technopark in
Biñan City, Laguna.
Also part of the transition to RFID is the phaseout of the
battery-powered Easytrip tags in use since 2005 at the NLEX-SCTEX by
September 30, 2020. However, current Easytrip tag users are assured
that any remaining account balance will be carried over once they
switch to the new RFID system.
All MPTC-allied expressways have also introduced a reduced initial
load of the Stick-It-Yourself RFID stickers from Php500 to Php200. The
stickers are free.
MPTC has also implemented specialized arrangements where teams have
interfaced with homeowners’ associations and local government units
where Easytrip RFID installation teams go to their locations for a
one- or two-day stickering event.
The tollway company is also set to activate the “RFID Assist Squads”
to assist motorists who need immediate help with their stickers for
initial loading and reloading.
Bontia noted that “there are only seven weeks left to implement
cashless and contactless transactions at every toll plaza, and MPTC
expressways are up to the challenge.”
For his part, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi
L. Bautista said, “Minimizing physical contact and going cashless in
our toll roads became an urgent priority because public health has
taken on a whole new level of significance with COVID-19. Although we
have launched the RFID as a payment option in our expressways for
quite some time already, it has become more relevant with this global
health crisis.”
All motorists have been advised to avoid last-minute compliance with
the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) department order to avoid
delays and inconvenience. Tollway patrols have been instructed to
require all vehicles without RFID tags to “install RFID stickers on
the spot” at the toll plazas.
“Agencies under the DOTr—TRB, LTO, and LTFRB— have been tasked to
formulate new sets of rules and procedures to ensure the smooth
implementation of cashless and contactless tollway transactions,” said
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark
Steven Pastor.
“With this all-RFID toll collection system, we aim to help prevent the
transmission of COVID-19 and ensure a more efficient traffic flow in
our expressways,” Pastor added.
MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic Clark
Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). In the works is the NLEX Connector that
will extend the NLEX southward from Caloocan to Sta. Mesa, Manila.
In South of Manila, MPTC operates the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and
the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX), both of which are undertaking
expansion projects.
Earlier, MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco expressed his full
support for the Department Order (DO) issued by DOTr Secretary Arthur
P. Tugade.
Secretary Tugadesigned the DO weeks ago, requiring all toll operators
to have 100% of its lanes on electronic toll collection by Nov. 2,
2020.
The transport chief said that he already mobilized the Toll Regulatory
Board (TRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure the
smooth transition from the cash system to the RFID-enabled cashless
transactions