TO make it more convenient for motorists to access expressways in Luzon, President Marcos on Tuesday launched the Toll Collection System Interoperability Project or the ‘One Radio Frequency Identification [RFID], All Tollways’ system.
Prior to the new system, motorists need to use the Autosweep system when Group-operated Nlex and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (Sctex).
‘This reform of the RFID system is part of our broader goal to make our infrastructure more modern, connected, and focused on the needs of every Filipino,’ Marcos said in Filipino in his speech during the launch of the new system at the Slex Toll Operation Building in Calamba City, Laguna.
The President explained the One RFID will be optional for motorists, who may opt to continue using the two-card scheme, but for those, who want to use the new system, they can do so for free once they register for it.
The One RFID can be used to access the Skyway, Slex, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (Tplex), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAx), Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), Nlex, Nlex Connector, Sctex, Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex), and C5 Southlink.
By next year, he said the coverage of the new system will also be extended to public utility vehicles, which make use of fleet accounts.
‘For now, we are prioritizing our private commuters. So we will just follow the fleet accounts, which I am reliably informed comprise a very small minority of the total traffic that we are trying to ease,’ Marcos said in Filipino.
He congratulated the Department of Transportation, Toll Regulatory Board, as well as the San Miguel and Metro Pacific Investments Corporations, which operate the Slex and Nlex, respectively for developing the interoperability system.
‘This project has been made possible because of the continued trust, commitment, and flexibility of our partner concessionaires, the operators, and ETC (electronic toll collection)/RFID providers,’ Marcos said.