Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said on Friday, February 21, that the agency suspended the cashless toll system on major expressways, including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), citing inefficiencies and concerns over its impact on low-income motorists.
The newly appointed Transportation secretary announced in a press briefing in Malacañang a day before the system was set to take effect on March 15.
In the briefing, Dizon said that he had directed the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and toll operators to halt the implementation of the cashless system, which would have eliminated cash lanes.
He explained that the move was necessary to address both technical issues and the potential burden on poorer drivers.
“I’ve already told TRB to suspend that, iyong cashless. Cashless ibig sabihin wala ng cash, cash lane sa—and I will tell you why,” Dizon said.
He recalled the chaos that ensued when a similar system was attempted years ago, particularly in high-traffic areas like Balintawak.
“Nagkabuhul-buhol iyan kasi I guess for whatever reason na hindi na-disseminate ang information, etc.,” Dizon said added.
Dizon also expressed concerns about the readiness of the current system, questioning whether all barriers and RFID readers were functioning efficiently.
He added that the system might not yet be reliable enough for a full transition to cashless transactions.
However, the secretary’s primary objection to the cashless system was its potential impact on low-income motorists. Dizon argued that the system would disproportionately affect those with limited budgets, who might struggle to maintain sufficient balances in their RFID accounts.
“Having a cashless system is not pro-poor; it is anti-poor,” said.
“Paano iyong mga kababayan natin na sagad-sagad ang budget ‘di ba, hindi sila makaka-load. Oh, papaano kung sa pagod nila, nakalimutan nilang mag-load, negative iyong balance nila or zero. Ibig mong sabihin kapag cashless, anong gagawin nila? Kalbaryo na naman iyon,” he added.
Dizon stressed that government policies should aim to make life easier for citizens, not harder.
The secretary acknowledged the need for regulation but insisted that it should not come at the expense of public convenience.
Dizon confirmed that he had already communicated his decision to toll operators Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC), ensuring that cash lanes would remain operational for the foreseeable future.
“We’re not going cashless on March 15, and we’re not going cashless for the first seeable future,” Dizon said.
The suspension of the cashless toll system has been met with mixed reactions. While some motorists welcomed the decision, others expressed frustration over the lack of progress in modernizing the country’s tollways. Toll operators have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
For now, the DOTR’s focus will be on improving the existing system and addressing the concerns that Dizon raised.
“Siguro pagdating ng panahon na perfect na ang system and then—pero right now, I don’t believe in it,” Dizon said. (TCSP)
