MANILA, Philippines – Motorists without electronic toll collection (ETC) devices or those with insufficient radio frequency identification (RFID) balances will not yet get penalties while plying toll expressways until October 1.

This comes after the Department of Transportation announced that instead of August 31, it will start implementing the new tollway guidelines by October.

“We hope the concerned agencies and tollway operators would use the 30-day deferment to fine-tune expressway operations and further intensify the public information campaign to enable tollway users to comply with the new guidelines,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a statement on Tuesday, August 27.

The DOTr, the Land Transportation Office, and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) signed a joint memorandum circular on August 1, seeking to fine motorists entering ETC lanes even without the RFID or for not having enough balance. The DOTr noted incidents would often cause “unnecessary delays and long queues” at the toll gates.

The TRB shifted to cashless transactions in 2021, assigning only one exit lane for cash transactions while all other toll plazas accept only RFID payments.

Based on the memorandum, those entering the highway either without an ETC or those with a damaged one will get a penalty of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for every succeeding offense.

Meanwhile, those exiting the expressway with insufficient balance will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second, and P2,500 for succeeding offenses.

“These refined guidelines should significantly improve traffic along expressways through cashless or contactless toll plazas,” Bautista said.

There have been complaints about the faulty RFID system — with stickers getting damaged easily or some have been placed incorrectly. Senators have even asked the TRB to put a toll hike on hold as it addresses issues of what should be a contactless transaction. – Rappler.com