Toll roads go RFID

Major toll road systems north and south of Metro Manila would be Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) compatible by April 2018, in line with a target earlier set by the Department of Transportation.

The North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway and Cavite Expressway are operated by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. while San Miguel Corp. operates South Luzon Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway, Naia Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and Star Tollway.

Currently, Metro Pacific’s toll roads are interoperable with SMC’s Autosweep RFID system. By April, SMC’s toll roads would be available to users of Metro Pacific Easytrip RFID platform.

Metro Pacific Tollways CEO Rodrigo Franco said an interim system was put in place to meet the deadline of the DOTr.

The DOTr announced in September last year that it wanted toll road operators to make their platforms interoperable for motorists. Based on the DOTr’s timeline, it wanted RFID interoperability within the first six months. This would be followed by the integration of cash payment systems, considered a more complex task.

Once fully implemented, motorists can use a single electronic tag when traveling between toll roads. For cash payments, they get a ticket upon entering a toll road and payment only comes once they exit, regardless of the toll road’s operator.