Toll operators are all geared up to implement the electronic toll collection system at their respective tollways, more than a week before the November 2 deadline set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In a statement on Saturday, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Abraham Sales confirmed the readiness of expressways operators to shift to contactless transactions in line with the DOTr directive.
The DOTr released last August a department order requiring all toll operators to have 100 percent of its lanes on electronic toll collection by November 2, as part of the department's efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease through limited physical contact.
Under the order, the TRB, an attached agency of the DOTr, was tasked to ensure that operators install electronic tags or other cashless systems for all motorists and motor vehicles using the expressways and transact only using a cashless mode of payment.
Though all expressways will be implementing cashless toll collections starting next month, Sales noted that motorists without RFID will still be allowed entry to the toll plaza but will be led to an area to have their vehicles installed with RFID stickers.
According to Sales, toll operators Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has announced to extend the installation of RFID stickers even beyond the DOTr's set deadline.
The MPTC operates NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C5 Link, and CALAX, while the SMC manages STAR, SLEX, Skyway System, NAIA Expressway, and TPLEX.
“It’s all systems go at the toll roads. All lanes will be RFID lanes. Those without RFID stickers will be allowed entry to the toll plaza and will be led to a nearby area for their RFID subscription before being allowed to proceed with their expressway travel," Sales said.
Sales added that the move to extend RFID installation was made to also avoid overcrowding at toll plazas and accommodate infrequent toll road users.
The MPTC earlier said that it will open RFID installation lanes in all entry toll plazas to serve motorists who are yet to install their Easytrip RFID even after the scheduled implementation of the new payment system.
Aside from drive-thru installation lanes, other RFID installation and reloading sites in various locations will remain open, it added.
Meanwhile, SMC expressways will also extend the free installation of its Autosweep RFID stickers until November 30.
This was after the SMC noticed a surge in the number of motorists rushing to convert to the Autosweep RFID system which has resulted in long queues at the installation stations.
"Many motorists have yet to secure their RFIDs, even as the date of implementation draws near. Hopefully, this will give more time for motorists to get their RFID stickers," it said.
The company emphasized that November 30 will be the "absolute deadline" for the full implementation of cashless toll collection operation, which means vehicles without RFID stickers will not be allowed to enter SMC-operated tollways.