DOTr chief Dizon calls cashless toll system ‘anti-poor,’ orders suspension

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the Toll Regulatory Board to suspend the mandatory cashless payment system on toll roads, calling it “anti-poor.”

“In my personal view, having a cashless system is not pro-poor. It is anti-poor,” Dizon said during a press conference on Friday.

“We are not going cashless for the foreseeable future,” he added.

Dizon emphasized the need to collaborate with the country’s two major toll operators — Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) — to improve the system’s efficiency. He noted key areas for enhancement, particularly RFID technology and barrier operations, to provide a smoother experience for motorists.

While acknowledging the need for regulation, Dizon stressed that policies should not burden ordinary Filipinos.

“Dapat gumi-ginhawa ang buhay ng tao, hindi pinapahirapan. Itong cashless na ito, tingin ko, pagpapahirap ito eh. Kaya hindi ako naniniwala diyan (People's lives should be made easier, not more difficult. This cashless system, I think, makes things harder. That's why I don't believe in it),” he said.

His directive came just hours after he was officially sworn in as Transportation Secretary by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday.

Dizon also announced plans to hold regular press briefings every two to three months to provide updates on priority infrastructure projects under his leadership.