The long-awaited implementation of a unified collection system for the country’s tollways is expected to begin this year alongside the full adoption of a cashless toll policy, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo said the cashless collection on expressways, which was suspended by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is currently under review.

Carullo told reporters that DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon specifically wants a probe of the account management systems of the toll operators and the issues plaguing the RFID.

The TRB has so far initiated an audit of the account management of both San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Tollways and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), where it uncovered issues such as delays in real-time charging of toll fees.

“So, until and unless explicit and categorical timing that all those are resolved tsaka pa lang ipapatupad ang cashless (only then will the cashless be implemented),” said Carullo.

The DOTr chief earlier ordered the TRB to suspend the implementation of the cashless toll collection policy this month to allow toll operators to fine-tune their operations further.

“Hopeful ako na maipatupad natin ang (I am hopeful that we can implement the) cashless or contactless within the year,” said Carullo.

“If not, we will simultaneously implement the cashless together with the interoperability…ang interoperability target namin (our target for interoperability is) within the year,” he added.

Similar to the cashless toll policy, the interoperability across expressways has been mired with issues related to the account management system.

The toll regulator vowed that such concerns would be dealt with once the proof-of-concept testing is conducted between August and September, with a dry run two months after.

“So, hopefully within the year we can implement both the contactless and interoperability,” Carullo said.

Upon implementing a unified toll collection system, the TRB plans to introduce a unified RFID wallet system that can be used across various tollways.

‘Corrective actions’

With the expected arrival of two systems to ease the traveling experience for motorists, the TRB is stepping up its regulatory powers to improve overall satisfaction in expressways.

The toll regulator recently updated its minimum performance specifications standard (MPSS) to issue what it described as “corrective actions” against toll operators.

Carullo said operators who cannot comply with certain key performance indicators (KPIs) would face corresponding penalties.

“Ang mga motorista merong penalty kung hindi ka nagko-comply…in the same manner, meron din kami ng mga penalties na pinasa para naman sa mga toll operators, to be fair,” he explained.

(Motorists face penalties if they do not comply… in the same manner, we have also approved penalties for toll operators to ensure fairness.)

According to Carullo, the MPTC has already paid over ₱200,000 due to violations, while the SMC Tollways just received a compliance directive from the TRB.

He said their most prevalent violations include overcharging, delayed real-time charging, and non-submission of reportorial requirements.