Despite the temporary suspension of cashless toll collection for further review by Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said the system, along with toll interoperability, could still be implemented within the year.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the NLEX-C5 Northlink project on Tuesday, TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo said toll operators Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and San Miguel Corp. must first resolve technical issues before full implementation can proceed.
“There are still challenges, particularly with real-time load charging. Toll operators must strictly comply with the minimum performance specification standard, and failure to meet key performance indicators will result in penalties,” Carullo said.
“Until and unless there’s categorical timing that all those issues are resolved, that’s only when we can implement this,” he added.
Nonetheless, Carullo remains optimistic that cashless transactions can still roll out within the year.
“I am hopeful that we can enforce cashless transactions within the year. If not, we will implement the cashless/contactless toll policy simultaneously with interoperability,” he said.
He noted that the issue often lies with RFID tags rather than readers, as many tags deteriorate due to weather exposure and wear and tear, particularly when placed near headlights. To address this, the policy now requires windshield installation to extend their lifespan.
For interoperability, Carullo said the final proof-of-concept testing is scheduled for August or September, followed by a one- to two-month dry run before full implementation.
“The direction of the Department of Transportation and our secretary is to implement interoperability as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the account management system remains a challenge due to delays in data processing.
Toll operators are expected to complete the installation of automatic license plate recognition systems by August to meet key performance indicators.
To recall, Dizon last week ordered the suspension of the mandatory cashless toll system, calling it “anti-poor,” and directed operators to improve system efficiency for a smoother experience for motorists.