Daily Tribune
LOOK: The North Luzon Expressway posted a reminder stating "No RFID, No entry" at the NLEX toll gate. Motorists who do not have RFID stickers or do not have enough RFID load at toll gates will face fines starting 31 August, according to the Toll Regulatory Board. Motorists who enter a tollway without an RFID sticker shall be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for subsequent offenses. Meanwhile, leaving the toll expressway with insufficient funds to pay your fees shall be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,500 for subsequent offenses.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) announced on Saturday, 15 February, that the re-implementation of cashless transactions on toll expressways will begin on 15 March.
This follows the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) lifting of earlier orders and after several months of testing.
The program, initially rolled out in December 2020 was suspended due to operational challenges. After improvements and months of testing, the TRB will be implementing the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system across toll expressways under its jurisdiction.
As part of the new policy, all motor vehicles traveling on toll expressways will be required to have a valid ETC device or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker installed.
While vehicles without one can still pass, they must have the sticker installed at designated sites afterward and may face penalties for non-compliance.
“Dedicated toll lanes used by cash paying motorists are usually congested with long lines of motor vehicles,” the TRB noted, emphasizing that ETC-only lanes will improve traffic.
Motorists who have not yet obtained an ETC device or RFID sticker are encouraged to do so ahead of time to avoid any disruptions in their travels.
To facilitate this, the TRB has partnered with toll expressway concessionaires, operators, and RFID service providers to establish additional installation sites.
Motorists are encouraged to avail an ETC device or RFID sticker early to avoid delays and penalties. The installation of the ETC device or RFID sticker is free of charge, and no maintaining balance is required.
The TRB, DOTr, and Land Transportation Office urge full cooperation to ensure the successful re-implementation of the cashless toll system for faster, safer, and more convenient travel.
