DOTr defers implementation of revised toll guidelines to Oct. 1

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has deferred the implementation of the revised guidelines on toll expressways to October 1.

The revised guidelines, which is indicated in the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2024-01, was signed on August 1 by Bautista, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo.

"We hope the concerned agencies and tollway operators would use the 30-day deferment to fine tune expressway operations and further intensify the public information campaign to enable tollway users to comply with the new guidelines," Bautista said in a press release.

"These revised guidelines should significantly improve traffic along expressways through cashless or contactless toll plazas," he added.

The new toll guidelines were supposedly slated to be enforced on August 31.

The JMC imposes the penalties for lack of installed electronic toll collection (ETC) device or insufficient load balance of a vehicle's radio frequency identification device (RFID), and strengthens the deputization by LTO of tollway enforcers of the two groups of tollway operators, among others.

To recall, it was in 2021 when the TRB moved closer to cashless expressways by designating only one exit lane for cash transactions at toll plazas (all other lanes for ETC) in compliance with an order from the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Meanwhile, Bautista sought the support of tollway users by complying with provisions of the JMC that covers expressways under TRB's jurisdiction.

Under the circular, motorists entering toll roads without valid RFID or electronic toll collection (ETC) device, including dilapidated ones, shall be penalized as "No Valid ETC Device" with the following fines:

• First offense - P1,000
• Second offense - P2,000
• Subsequent offenses - P5,000 per offense

Those exiting an expressway with insufficient balance, meanwhile, shall be penalized as "insufficient load" with the following penalties:

• First offense - P500
• Second offense - P1,000
• Subsequent offenses - P2,500 per offense

For the use of fraudulent, tampered, or fake RFID device and e-card upon entry and exit on toll expressway shall be penalized as "Fraudulent or Falsified ETC" with a penalty of:

• First offense - P1,000
• Second offense - P2,000
• Subsequent offenses - P5,000 per offense

The TRB earlier said erring motorists with RFID-related violations represent 9% of all the motorists using the toll expressways, "who unfortunately are the ones causing the unnecessary delays and long queues at the toll plazas." — VDV, GMA Integrated News