Tollroad operators to retain most workers

The country’s major tollroad operators are retraining and redeploying toll cashiers to other roles as their jobs are phased out beginning Dec. 1 when expressways fully go cashless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the Department of Transportation (DOTr) setting the final deadline for full RFID payments next month, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said the retooling of workers would minimize job losses.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. CEO Rodrigo Franco said they employ more than 700 toll employees, many of them to take on new jobs once the transition to RFID was complete.

But he said it was too early to tell whether the shift would lead to job cuts.

“I can’t say no layoffs. We will redeploy as many as possible,” Franco told the Inquirer.

“They will need to be reskilled. But some will opt not to be redeployed. They will get their full benefits,” he added.

Metro Pacific Tollways operates the North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, Cavite Expressway and Cavite Laguna Expressway.

Franco said the transition to RFID was also expected to open more “back office functions” and new toll facilities that would require full-time staff.

“The bulk of the work will shift to the back office. This will involve creation of customer accounts, posting reloads and transactions to the accounts and similar activities that are not visible to customers,” Franco explained.

“We will also need more customer account personnel to respond to inquiries. In addition, we will be deploying lane assistants who will assist RFID customers in the field,” he added.

Mary Jane Llanes, head of SMC’s media affairs, said similar measures were being planned for their tollroad cashiers and employees.

“They will not lose their jobs. They will just be reassigned,” she said in a text message.

SMC is also expanding its workforce given the nearing completion of Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 next month.

SMC operates the South Luzon Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway system, Naia Expressway, Star Tollway and Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway.

The DOTr recently extended the deadline for tollroads to accept only cashless modes of payments from Nov. 2 to Dec. 1. INQ