Impressive! RFID tags installed on 97% of motor vehicles always using expressways
The big news today is that the mandate to have RFID tags installed on motor vehicles, lest they be fined or penalized, will be re-implemented starting March 15, 2025. In a separate article, we mentioned that this isn’t supposed to be new to the expressway-using folks and that the proposed fines and penalties will be the same once the mandate is again enforced. But if we were to be optimistic, it’s likely you, our dear reader, might not have anything to worry about at all.
Data shows that only 3% of vehicles using tollways have no RFID, still use cash payments to date
Photo: NLEX Corp.
The announcement that the (re)start of the Cashless/Contactless Transactions upon entering tollways was made by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) last February 15. In the said announcement, the public was reminded that having RFID tags installed on their motor vehicles will be the only way to gain hassle-free entry into expressways. Yes, if you don’t have tags, you can still enter but you’ll be required to have them installed then and there or at the next or nearest installation site.
This notwithstanding, toll concessionaires SMC Infrastructure, MPTC, NLEX Corp., PRA, and MCX Tollway Inc. have all expressed their support for the reinstatement of the “rule” per Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-001.
Photo: NLEX Corp.
According to various reports, in a statement from the aforementioned concessionaires, they stated that according to “the latest data from the TRB, (that) 97% of expressway users already use an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Device/RFID Sticker for toll payments. With the reimplementation of the cashless/ contactless toll collection policy, we encourage the remaining 3% of motorists who still pay in cash to switch to RFID for a faster, more efficient, and seamless toll experience.”
While no specific numbers have been released, we can only surmise that this 97% does account for a rather huge number of vehicles that should have no problems going in and out of expressways. For the remaining 3%, they will still have until March 14 to ensure that they will be granted instant passage through toll gates by simply having the proper RFID tags installed on their vehicles.
Photo: Toll Regulatory Board
If you’re actually part of the “minority” that does not have tags yet, you can refer to this RFID Installation Guide that we’ve made for you so you can have yours stuck onto your motor vehicle, posthaste.
It’s always better to treat things like this with a great sense of urgency, especially given the fact that the fines and penalties are actually quite steep. You can find that information here, too.
There’s still time, ladies and gentlemen. Go get those tags installed, yes? Yes.
