Dry run of cashless toll collection at CAVITEX starts

The PEA Tollway Corporation, operator of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), started the dry run of its 100% cashless toll collection at its toll plazas on Saturday.

Motorists passing through the CAVITEX toll plazas in Parañaque and Kawit, Cavite should have Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers installed on their vehicles or have one installed during the dry run.

No cash lanes will be available during the dry run.

According to the operator, after the dry run, motorists with no RFID stickers will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

The same fines will also be imposed on motorists found using tampered or fake RFID device.

However, if a motorist has an RFID sticker but its balance is insufficient, a fine of P500 will be imposed for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,500 for subsequent offenses.

Some motorists were not in favor of the implementation of the 100% cashless transaction at CAVITEX.

Taxi driver Christopher said installing an RFID is a bit expensive for him.

"Paano kung wala pa kaming kita? Buti sana kung sasagutin 'yun ng operator namin. Eh hindi... Hindi ako pabor siyempre," he said.

(What if we don't have earnings? Good if our operator will pay for it. But no. So I am not in favor.)

Mang Carlos, another motorist, said there should still be cash lanes for people like him who do not use the expressway regularly.

"Sana 'wag na ho patupad 'yun, kasi kung bihira ka lang naman pupunta do'n, sayang naman 'yung pera mo... Dapat meron din na cash 'pag bihira, kung pupunta ka lang. Eh kung du'n ka talaga nakatira, puwede. Puwede kang kumuha pang-araw-araw mo," he said.

(I hope they won't implement that [cashless collection] because if you don't go there regularly, you won't get your money's worth [for the installation]. There should be cash lanes for those who seldom use the expressway. If you live there [near the expressway], then you can [have RFID installed]. You can get one for your daily trips.)

It was not clear yet until when the dry run at CAVITEX will be implemented.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier deferred to October 1 the implementation of the revised guidelines on tollways.

Under the said guidelines, penalties will be imposed for lack of installed electronic toll collection (ETC) device or insufficient load balance of a vehicle's RFID.

It also strengthens the deputization by Land Transportation Office of tollway enforcers of the two groups of tollway operators, among others. —with a report from Jhomer Apresto/KG, GMA Integrated News