The country’s two tollway operators are cooperating with the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) review of cashless toll collection implementation on expressways, set to begin March 15.
SMC Infrastructure said since the policy was introduced five years ago, the government and the private sector have worked closely together to develop a system that improves the tolling experience for all motorists.
A key part of this effort has been ensuring full interoperability among electronic toll collection (ETC) systems across expressways.
However, SMC said a fundamental requirement for achieving this interoperability is the full adoption of cashless and contactless toll collection. Without a uniform cashless system, seamless integration between different toll operators cannot be fully realized.
“We understand the need to ensure that any transition to cashless tolling is seamless and truly beneficial to the public. When implemented effectively, it enhances convenience, safety, and efficiency for everyone on the road,” SMC said.
Beyond just improving toll transactions, the company said cashless tolling helps ease congestion and shorten travel times—making daily commutes easier and supporting businesses and individuals who rely on efficient road networks.
“We remain committed to working closely with the Department of Transportation and other stakeholders to refine and enhance the system, ensuring it is inclusive, effective, and serves the best interests of all road users,” SMC said.
In a separate statement, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said, “ we abide by the directives of the government and our concession grantor and respect the decision of DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon to suspend mandatory cashless toll collection to prioritize ensuring efficiency and reliability for the motoring public. MPTC continues to strive to enhance our cashless toll. system.”
“Since the policy was first introduced in 2020, almost all plazas are now capable of automatic license plate recognition, and we are investing an additional P1.4 billion to upgrade the rest,” it added.
MPTC said the company is working with its government partners to sustain the rollout of improvements in its expressway network.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon earlier ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend the implementation of a completely cashless toll collection system at the expressway next month.
The TRB had planned to go ahead with the mandatory cashless collection system on March 15 after suspending it in September last year due to technical issues.
