By John Clifford Lintao
STARTING November, cash payment for the use of the roll roads would no longer be allowed, said the Toll Regulatory Board, which would announced the effectivity of the cashless and contactless toll collection in expressways in Luzon.
“‘Yun pong department order na inissue ang start po n’yan November 2. ‘Yun po ang direktiba sa amin that’s why we have to ensure na by November 2 ‘yung transaction ng toll collection sa mga expressway through electronic toll na lang o yung tinatawag na RFID,” TRB executive director Abe Sales said in a radio interview.
Sales is apparently referring to Department of Transportation Order 2020-012 which directs concerned agencies to formulate new processes and procedures within three months to ensure the smooth implementation of cashless and contactless toll collection to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor said that Secretary Arthur Tugade already signed the department order on the matter.
“May department order na po na pinirmahan ang aming mahal na Secretary Tugade. Ngayon po ang first day of publication,” Pastor said in an interview on Unang Hirit.
In a statement on Monday, DOTR said the TRB will create rules and regulations for concessionaires and operators of toll expressways as they shift to electronic toll collection systems.