Cashless Toll Payment System 'Anti-Poor'
The Department of Transportation has postponed anew the upcoming cashless
toll collection system for major expressways in Luzon, including the North
Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway.
In a press briefing at the Palace, newly appointed DOTr Secretary Vince
Dizon revealed that he had instructed the Toll Regulatory Board to delay
the implementation of contactless transactions for vehicles using these
expressways.
The Cashless or Contactless Transactions Program was slated to restart on
March 15 for all toll expressways regulated by the TRB, aiming to enhance
the use of all toll lanes and plazas via the Electronic Toll Collection
System.
All motorists were supposed to be required to have either a valid ETC
Device or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker on their
vehicles, and those who fail to comply with the "No RFID, No Entry" policy
would face penalties.
He expressed his personal view that the cashless payment system is
"anti-poor."
Dizon said he would collaborate with the two toll operators, Metro Pacific
Tollways Corp. and San Miguel Corporation, and examine the system first to
ensure it is more efficient, running smoothly with all the barriers
operational, and the RFIDs working.
Some may have difficulty describing owners of motor vehicles as poor. Be
that as it may, the new DOTr secretary may be in the right to ensure the
cashless payment system is truly efficient and glitch-free-there's still
lots of complaints about missing RFID loads-- before even thinking of
making it mandatory at tollways.