Toll Regulatory Board to start cashless toll dry run on September 1, 2023

A word of warning for motorists frequently traveling on tollways without RFID, we heavily advise you to get one now. The reason we are urging you to get an RFID sticker sooner rather than later is because of a recent announcement from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

Starting September 1, 2023, the TRB has revealed its plan to initiate a trial phase for contactless or cashless toll collection. This initial phase will be conducted exclusively at designated toll plazas.

Through an official announcement posted on its Facebook page and official site, the TRB conveyed that specific toll plazas meeting the required criteria will host a two-month trial period for the contactless toll collection program. This preparatory stage is said to be imperative by the regulatory board to assess the readiness of Tollway Concessionaires and Operators in ensuring the seamless and effective reintroduction of the aforementioned contactless toll payment method. 

During a recent briefing, President Rogelio Singson of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation unveiled plans for the implementation of multi-lane, barrier-less toll plazas across their expressways. This strategic move aims to optimize traffic flow. However, specific details regarding the timeline for the complete removal of toll barriers from all expressways were not provided during the announcement. Singson added that the Philippines will be going cashless, multi-lane, and barrier-less like tollways in foreign countries.

SMC Tollways President Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has communicated the intention to eliminate cash lanes and transition exclusively to RFID-based cashless transactions. However, this shift is contingent upon regulatory and governmental authorization. As it stands, the sole expressway that operates without toll barriers and exclusively utilizes RFID is the newly inaugurated NLEX Connector, operated by Pangilinan-led Manila Pacific Tollways Corp.

Two years ago, the contactless payment system was scheduled for complete implementation on January 11, 2021. However, the cashless system encountered setbacks due to multiple glitches and RFID system malfunctions deployed by both MPTC and SMC Tollways. Consequently, the TRB and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) jointly decided to halt the full-scale rollout of cashless toll collection. This pause aimed to provide tollway operators with the opportunity to enhance their systems and offer motorists extended time to acquire RFID stickers.

Listed below are the toll plazas chosen to participate in the two-month dry run.

Easytrip:

A. North Luzon Expressway – all toll plazas

B. Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway – all toll plazas

C. Cavite-Laguna Expressway – all toll plazas

D. Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway-C5 Southlink

• Taguig Toll Plaza
• Merville Toll Plaza

Autosweep subscribers:

A. NAIA Expressway – all toll plazas

B. South Metro Manila Skyway, Stages 1 and 2

Skyway Elevated Alpha and Bravo

• C5 Exit and Entry
• Nichols Entry
• Nichols Exit
• Merville Exit
• Bicutan Entry Southbound (SB) and Northbound (NB)
• Sucat Exit SB and NB
• Alabang SB Exit

C. South Luzon Expressway

• Filinvest Exit and Entry
• Alabang NB and SB
• Mamplasan NB
• Sta. Rosa NB
• ABI SB and NB
• Cabuyao SB
• Silangan SB
• Batino SB Exit
• Calamba-Turbina SB Exit
• Calamba NB Exit
• Canlubang SB Entry
• Calamba SB Entry
• Calamba-Real NB Entry
• Calamba-Turbina A NB Entry

D. Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway – all toll plazas

E. Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3

• Buendia NB Entry
• Buendia SB Exit
• Plaza Dilao SB Entry
• G. Araneta NB Entry
• Quezon Ave. NB Entry
• Quezon Ave. NB Exit
• Quezon Ave. SB Entry
• Del Monte NB Alpha

F. Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway

• Victoria Toll Plaza
• Pura Toll Plaza
• Anao Toll Plaza
• Pozzorubio Toll Plaza
• Rosario Toll Plaza

G. STAR Tollway

• Sto. Tomas SB Entry
• Sto. Tomas NB Entry
• Tanauan NB Entry

This is only the first batch of qualified tollways chosen to participate in the dry run, the TRB says additional tollways will be included as the dry run progresses.