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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Transport leaders: cashless systems aiding recovery

Transport leaders: cashless systems aiding recovery

Published Aug 16, 2021 05:53 pm
Local transport leaders are expanding cashless transactions in their operations to aid the country’s economic recovery.
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During a recent forum on "Cashless Society and Mobility on the Road to Recovery”, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) president and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco maintained that "an emerging economy could grow out of the crisis, especially one that it is driven by the rapid and extended use of digital technologies.”
At first, “MPTC’s improvements were part of a medium-term plan to maximize the use of digital technologies,” he acknowledged.
That was until they had to work with the government to control the spread of the Covid virus.
"Thus, cashless transactions, through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), were installed and activated in all toll plazas of MPTC’s expressways,” according to Franco.
Now, MPTC expressways are “fully implementing cashless transactions at toll plazas, pioneering in barrier-less toll plazas and laying the groundwork for an open road tolling system.”
To hasten the country’s economic recovery, MPTC is fast-tracking its tollway infrastructure build-up – specifically the NLEX Connector, the Urban Ring Road in Metro Manila, and the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.
“These will create thousands of jobs during and after tollway construction, give rise to allied industries in project sites, re-ignite investment enthusiasm, and rekindle hope for an increasing number of our people,” says Franco.
The future of trasport is “ACES” - Autonomous Vehicles, Connectivity, Electric, and Shared Mobility, he predicted.
Autonomous vehicles are “driver-less”, as showcased by the Tesla’s Autopilot.
They will enhance road safety, because they eliminate “driver error”, “Simply because there is no driver to speak of,” he added.
More digital technologies will connect people and services.
Electric motor bikes and hybrid electric cars will reduce carbon monoxide on the road.
Shared use mobility can become the norm. Traditional “car ownership” will give way to bike sharing, ride sharing, and other ride sourcing schemes.
Ultimately, firms embracing these changes and translating them into business plans “will become one of the most important transport or mobility companies in the region,” Franco underscored.

Related Tags

MPTC CASHLESS MOBILITY CASHLESS TRANSPORT OPERATIONS
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