Metro Pacific Tollways eyes 1.2M RFID subscribers to achieve 100% cashless transactions by November

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is targeting to reach around 1.1 million to 1.2 million Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) subscribers to achieve 100% cashless transactions along its toll roads by November.

This is in compliance with the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Order No. 2020-10 requiring all tollways operators and concessionaires to install electronic tags or other cashless systems, such as but not limited to, RFID, Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS), etc. for all motorists and motor vehicles using the toll expressways and transact only thru the cashless mode of payment of toll not later than November 2, 2020.

In a virtual press conference Friday, MPTC’s RFID 100 Task Force head Roberto Bontia said that around 75% or the MPTC expressways’ lanes are already RFID-enabled.

MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx), and the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAx).

In terms of vehicles, Bontia said that MPTC is “more or less eyeing close to 1.1 to 1.2 million [RFID] subscribers.”

“Since we started the program of reinforced RFID campaign, we have 700,000 subscribers. Right now, we are at more than 800,000 subscribers,” he said.

To achieve the target, Bontia said they are eyeing additional 500,000 new subscribers. He noted that everyday their teams are averaging 300 to 400 RFID installations.

“With the weekly targets leading to November, we will able to hit almost 100% by November,” Bontia said.

Highlighting the MPTC’s recent efforts to make its expressways cashless, he said the Philippine Arena toll plaza, Lawang Bato Northbound Entry, and expansion lanes in Balintawak and Bocaue toll plazas in NLEx have been converted into exclusive RFID lanes.

The CALAx also opened 100% RFID interchanges in Laguna Boulevard and Laguna Technopark in Biñan City, Laguna.

Also part of the transition to RFID is the phaseout of the battery-powered Easytrip tags in use since 2005 at the NLEx-SCTEx by September 30, 2020.

However, current Easytrip tag users are assured that any remaining account balance will be carried over once they switch to the new RFID system.

All MPTC-allied expressways have also introduced a reduced initial load of the Stick-It-Yourself RFID stickers from P500 to P200. The stickers are free.

For his part, NLEx Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said that with the 100% shift to cashless toll transactions “there will be personnel that will be affected.”

“We have this fully in mind and we will take care of our people,” Bautista said.

However, he assured “wala pong maapektuhan this year as we continue to plan and rationalize our manpower deployment.”

The NLEx chief noted that minimizing physical contact and going cashless in the company’s toll roads became an urgent priority because public health has taken on a whole new level of significance with COVID-19.

“Although we have launched the RFID as a payment option in our expressways for quite some time already, it has become more relevant with this global health crisis,” Bautista said.—AOL, GMA News