House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera has called on the House leadership to fast track the approval of the bill that seeks to improve the country’s road safety measures and ease tollway congestion especially during the peak holiday seasons.
The Bagong Henerasyon Party-list representative is referring to House Bill No. 8161, which she filed last May and seeks to categorize non-payment of toll fees as a traffic violation and mandates automated cashless toll collection.
Herrera reiterated the necessity to ease traffic flow especially at tollways to ensure it would not get clogged especially during rush hours. Thus, designating the non-payment of toll fees as a traffic violation, complete with associated fines and penalties, will discourage any deliberate or accidental evasion of toll payments that could lead to traffic gridlock and accidents.
“By making non-payment of toll fees a traffic violation, we are sending a clear message that traffic rules must be followed. This is a fundamental step in ensuring the safety of our tollways,” Herrera said.
Violators of the proposed law will have to pay P1,000 to P5,000 and subsequent suspension of driver’s licenses, and depending on the gravity and other outstanding obligations.
The measure also seeks the mandatory use of standardized Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) systems across all tollways in the country, with the aim of streamlining toll collection and enhancing the experience for commuters, motorists, and businesses.
“Automated cashless toll collection is more than just a convenience; it’s a way to reduce traffic congestion, especially during peak holiday seasons,” Herrera said.
“Our highways and expressways are the lifeblood of our transportation network. With this bill, we’re taking significant strides to make them safer and more efficient,” she added.
The lawmaker said the money collected through these penalties would be directed towards the maintenance of road safety signage and enhancements in tollway enforcement, ultimately nurturing safer and more efficient road systems.
The proposed law also seeks innovative tolling systems such as Open Road Tolling (ORT) and Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) tolling, enabling toll fee collection without the need for vehicles to halt at toll booths, provided they have a functioning RFID tag and sufficient funds in their corresponding account.
“ORT and MLFF tolling are innovative solutions that can revolutionize our transportation system. The benefits of this bill are far-reaching: reduced travel times, improved traffic flow, and a more eco-friendly option. It’s a win-win for all,” she pointed out.
Once the bill becomes law, Herrera said she is confident it will pave the way for the Philippines to implement the MLFF system, and eventually fix traffic congestion issues faced by tollway users.
“Apart from being a significant inconvenience for drivers, our country lags behind in terms of the speed at which vehicles pass through tollways, as we are the sole ASEAN nation requiring a complete stop on supposed expressways,” she said.