CASHLESS. Motorists pass through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx)-Bocaue Toll Plaza on Aug. 25, 2023. The Toll Regulatory Board is eyeing the full implementation of toll interoperability by the second quarter of 2024, allowing motorists to use one radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker and e-wallet across all collection systems in expressways, its spokesperson said Tuesday (Oct. 3, 2023). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) is eyeing the full implementation of toll interoperability by the second quarter of 2024, allowing motorists to use one radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker and e-wallet across all collection systems in expressways, its spokesperson said Tuesday.
"We have ongoing activities on this and we are looking forward na magkaroon kami ng (that we will have) 'acceptance test' by December this year, sort of a dry run," Julius Corpuz, TRB spokesperson, said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
He said the TRB is working with tollway concessionaires and operators for a smooth implementation of the project's Phase 3 or the one RFID tag and one e-wallet phase.
"We are looking forward na 'yung (that the) phase three ng (of the) interoperability project would be fully implemented by the second quarter of next year. We are on track," Corpuz said.
In September 2017, the government and several private firms signed a memorandum of agreement for the toll collection interoperability project that has three phases.
It aims to implement the interoperability of electronic toll collection (ETC) and cash payment systems of existing toll expressways for fast, efficient and seamless travel of motorists.
The first phase was launched and implemented in December 2017 and the second in January 2023, according to the TRB.
Cashless toll dry run
The TRB is now on its second-month dry run for contactless transactions in select toll plazas to test the readiness of concessionaires for a smooth and efficient reimplementation of the program.
Corpuz said the dry run has been smooth so far, without any major issues encountered since Sept. 1.
"Napansin namin na simula ng magpatupad tayo ng dry run, marami na rin ang nahikayat na magpakabit ng RFID at ngayon tinatamasa na nila ang mabilis na transaksyon sa toll plaza (We noticed that since the start of the dry run, many of the motorists have their RFID installed and now enjoying fast and seamless travel in toll plazas)," he said.
READ: Switch to faster RFID payment system, motorists told
"Paalala sa ating sticker holders na bago kayo pumasok sa ETC lanes, whether kasama sa dry run o hindi, ay tiyakin na meron tayong sapat na load para mapabilis ang byahe sa mga toll plaza (For those with existing RFID sticker, they are advised to have their RFID sticker checked and that they have sufficient load before they enter the expressway for seamless travel)," Corpuz said.
After the end of the dry run on Oct. 31, Corpuz said the TRB will assess whether to continue the dry run and find ways to further improve the electronic toll systems in toll plazas. (PNA)
