House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera on Thursday, March 28 renewed her call for the immediate approval of the “Tollway bill” aimed easing traffic congestion on tollways. 

House Bill No. 8161, or the proposed “Non-Payment of Toll Fees Act of 2023” seeks to classify non-payment of toll fees as a traffic violation and requires automated cashless toll collection to improve road safety and ease congestion on tollways, especially during peak holiday sesons. 

Herrera said passage of the bill into law would help prevent traffic jams at tollways akin to the “carmageddon” experienced during Holy Week.

“The time for action is now. We cannot afford to delay the approval of this bill any longer, especially considering the urgent need to improve traffic flow and ensure the safety of motorists,” Herrera said in a statement. 

The measure seeks the introduction of innovative tolling systems like the Open Road Tolling and the Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF). Both systems aims to streamline collection without requiring vehicles to stop at toll booths, provided they have a working Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and sufficient funds.

Herrera said once these systems are in place, it will reduce travel time, improve traffic flow, and provide environmental benefits.

Other Asian countries, such as Taiwan’s MLFF system, she said has successfully implemented this. She said Japan, China, Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong, vehicles slow down to around 40 to 60 kilometers per hour. But in Taiwan, “there's no need to reduce speed due to MLFF,” she noted.

“Besides being a major inconvenience for drivers, our country lags behind in tollway speed, as we're the only ASEAN nation mandating a complete stop on supposed expressways,” she said.

“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.

The bill also carries stringent penalties for violations, with the initial offense carrying a P1,000 fine and one-month driver’s license suspension. On the second violation, the penalty heightens to P2,000, coupled with a three-month suspension. A third violation increases to P5,000 and a six-month suspension. 

Subsequent violations automatically result to a one-year license suspension, contingent upon settling all outstanding obligations.

HB 8161 also proposes the mandatory use of standardized 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 stressed.