Adoption of cashless tolling system needed for full interoperability among expressways — SMC

SMC Infrastructure said Monday the adoption of a cashless tolling system is needed for the full interoperability among electronic toll collection (ETC) systems across expressways.

In a statement, SMC Infra said that since the cashless toll collection was introduced five years ago, the private sector has worked “closely” with the government to develop a system that would improve experience for motorists.

“A key part of this effort has been ensuring full interoperability among electronic toll collection systems across expressways,” it said.

“However, a fundamental requirement for achieving this interoperability is the full adoption of cashless and contactless toll collection. Without a uniform cashless system, seamless integration between different toll operators cannot be fully realized,” it added.

SMC, through its tollways unit, operates the South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway Stage 3, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), the NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

Its statement was released days after Dizon last week ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend the reimplementation of cashless toll collection — supposed to take effect March 15 — in all expressways, saying its efficiency should be evaluated first. He also called the system “anti-poor.”

“We understand the need to ensure that any transition to cashless tolling is seamless and truly beneficial to the public. When implemented effectively, it enhances convenience, safety, and efficiency for everyone on the road,” SMC Infra said.

“Beyond just improving toll transactions, cashless tolling helps ease congestion and shorten travel times — making daily commutes easier and supporting businesses and individuals who rely on efficient road networks,” it added.

MPTC to meet with Dizon

For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) chairman Manuel Pangilinan said he is set to meet with Dizon to discuss the matter and several other items in the coming days.

“We’re seeing him I think sometime this week, so I’m sure that’s not the only item on the agenda with him,” he said in an interview in Taguig City.

MPTC is the operator of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and the NLEX Connector.

Pangilinan said that the latest report showed that 90% of the motorists that use MPTC’s expressways are already using radio-frequency identification (RFID) for cashless transactions, up from 84% in December 2024.

“You need at least one toll booth na cash lang kasi mga Pilipino, alam naman natin pasaway diba. (because Filipinos, as we know, are stubborn) There will always be somebody to refuse to adopt to RFID. You don’t want to turn him away,” he said.

“We have to maintain one or two, depending, I guess ‘yung ruta ng mga motorista (on the route of the motorists). Diba, kung may (If there are) certain parts of the city that don’t like RFIDs or don’t like technology,” he added.

MPTC is in talks to merge with San Miguel Corp., but the Pangilinan-led firm first plans to raise some P30 billion to P50 billion as it looks to settle its debt. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News