Motorists, Expect a Dry Run for Contactless Toll Payment in September

(SPOT.ph) Selected toll booths in various expressways will carry out a contactless payment collection for a two-month dry run period starting September 1, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) as it prepares to reimplement the cashless program first introduced in 2020. 

In light of this, the TRB is encouraging frequent tollway users to check and load their RFID stickers for smoother transactions before entering the expressways.  TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz told SPOT.ph that the upcoming dry-run will apply to all expressways, but not to all toll plazas. 

He also clarified that those without an RFID sticker would still be allowed to pass through the RFID lanes throughout this two-month trial period. No apprehension will be made to motorists paying in cash.

“Meron pa ring cash. Puwede sila pumasok kahit wala silang sticker. Puwede sila magbayad ng cash. They will only be persuaded, encouraged to have a sticker…but we will not prevent any motorists without RFID from entering unless nago-obstruct siya," Corpuz said.

The decision to conduct the dry-run comes in response to Committee on Transportation of the House of Representatives' call for the reinstatement of the contactless program. The initial push for contactless transactions was driven by the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) Department Order No. 2020-12, issued on August 13, 2020, as a measure to combat the transmission of COVID-19. It has since evolved into a strategy for enhancing traffic flow on expressways.

“It will only be for a period two months until we’ve asserted [that] we’re ready…before we recommend the reimplementation of the cashless [system]. We have been required by Congress to reimplement it,” Corpuz said. 

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened in 2020.”

Also read: The SPOT.ph Guide to Easytrip and Autosweep RFIDs

Included toll booths in the dry-run program:

The dry-run will be implemented in phases, now at the third batch. Signages will also be placed to inform motorists if the toll booth is part of the contactless program.

“Toll operators are required to do the necessary advisories prior to implementation,” Corpuz said.

Easytrip subscribers:

• North Luzon Expressway (Ciudad de Victoria NB, Sta. Rita NB, Pulilan NB and SB, San Simon NB, Mexico, Dau SB)
• Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (Dolores, SFEX)
• Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Technopark, Laguna Boulevard A, Laguna Boulevard B, Silang East)
• Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (C5 Southlink)

Autosweep subscribers:

• NAIA Expressway (All NAIAX Toll Plazas)
• South Metro Manila Skyway, Stages 1 and 2 (Nichols Entry and Exit, Merville Toll Plaza, Sucat SB and NB Exit, Bicutan SB and NB Entry, Alabang SB Exit, Skyway Alpha and Bravo)
• Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (Del Monte NB Alpha, Buendia NB Entry and SB Exit, Plaza Dilao, Quezon Avenue NB and SB Entry, G. Araneta NB Entry)
• South Luzon Expressway (Mamplasan NB, Silangan SB, Eton SB and NB Entry/Exit, Cabuyao SB Entry, Alabang SB and NB Entry/Exit, Batino SB Exit, Calamba Turbina A NB Entry and SB Exit, Calamba NB and SB Entry, Canlubang Mayapa SB Entry, Filinvest Exit)
• Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway 
• Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (Buendia NB Entry, Buendia SB Exit, Plaza Dilao SB Entry, G. Araneta NB Entry, Quezon Avenue NB and SB Entry, Quezon Avenue NB Exit, Del Monte NB Alpha)
• Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (Rosario, Anao, Pura, Pozzorubio, Rosario)
• STAR Tollway (Tanauan NB Entry, Sto. Tomas NB Entry)

The toll indicators are expected to have a minimum 98% success rate for automatic detection and nearly real-time transmission of data for accurate toll fee charging, account balance updating, and precise toll fare information during lane passage.

RFIDs remain free at several installation sites.

“We encourage them to switch to RFID for a faster and more convenient travel sa ating expressway since that’s the way to go,” Corpuz said. —with additional reporting from Pia Regalado

Also read: Heads Up, Motorists: You Will Now Have to Pay Toll for the NLEX-SLEX Connector

UPDATED (September 6, 2023): This article has been updated to include the second batch of toll plazas.

UPDATED (September 14, 2023): This article has been updated to include the third batch of toll plazas.