In a surprising move, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has put the brakes on the planned rollout of a cashless toll collection system across major expressways in Luzon, including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The decision was announced by the newly-appointed DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon during a press briefing at the Palace, where he instructed the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to delay the shift to contactless transactions.
Secretary Dizon expressed his concerns about the readiness of the system, stating, “NLEX and SLEX were set to go cashless, but I’ve asked the TRB to hold off on that.” The cashless initiative, which was scheduled to restart on March 15, aimed to streamline toll collection by mandating the use of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems across all toll lanes managed by the TRB.
Under the proposed system, all vehicles would need to be equipped with a valid ETC Device or an RFID sticker. Non-compliance with the “No RFID, No Entry” rule would result in penalties. However, Dizon pointed out that the previous attempt at implementing cashless tolls failed due to widespread unawareness among motorists.
Dizon also voiced his belief that the timing for such a system is off, as it is not yet fully developed. He labeled the contactless payment system as “anti-poor,” suggesting it could disproportionately affect less affluent drivers. He plans to collaborate with toll operators Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and San Miguel Infrastructure to assess and improve the system before any reimplementation.
“We need to ensure the system works efficiently. Are all barriers functioning? Are all RFID tags readable?” Dizon questioned, emphasizing the need for a system that enhances, rather than complicates, the lives of everyday Filipinos. He concluded by saying, “Regulation is necessary, but it shouldn’t make life harder for people. This cashless system, in its current form, might do just that. We’ll reconsider when it’s perfected.”