North Luzon Expressway toll plaza
MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has given toll expressways until November 2 to start carrying out cashless transactions.
The DOTr, in its Department Order 2020-012, signed on August 13 by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, has directed DOTr-attached agencies -- the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Land Transportation Office (LTO) – to formulate new processes and procedures to ensure the smooth implementation of cashless transactions on toll expressways.
The TRB has been directed to promulgate rules and regulations that would require concessionaires and operators to transition to 100-percent electronic toll collection lanes.
The department order further stated that the TRB shall ensure that concessionaires and operators install electronic tags or other cashless systems, such as but not limited to, RFID (radio-frequency identification), Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS), and others for all motorists and motor vehicles using the toll expressways and transact only through the cashless mode of payment of toll not later than November 2.
“Coordination is already ongoing between (the) TRB and our concessionaires and operators. We are also working on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the new policy to ensure (a) smooth and expedient transition to contactless and cashless transactions. Ginagawa natin 'yan para walang hawaan (ng Covid-19). 'Yan po ang direktiba sa atin ni Secretary Tugade kaya sisiguraduhin po natin na maipatupad ito by November 2 (We’re doing this to prevent Covid-19 infections. That is the directive of Secretary Tugade, so we will make sure to implement it by November 2),” TRB Executive Director Abraham Sales said in a news release issued on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the LTO will be in charge of studying and exploring ways to allow a full cashless and contactless system along expressways, while the LTFRB will monitor the compliance of all Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) with the mandatory use and installation of electronic tags or use of other cashless systems in their units.
Contactless transactions shall be implemented at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Metro Manila Skyway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and all other road networks, including extensions of these expressway facilities, which may be constructed, established and/or operated as expressway toll facilities.
The new policy ensures further protection of the public from the infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), as it promotes adherence to health protocols, such as physical distancing by limiting human intervention and removing traffic queues and congestion at toll plazas. (DOTr PR)
