Dizon: Compelling all motorists to use RFID ‘anti-poor’

Newly-installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon suspended next month’s implementation of a completely cashless toll collection system at the expressways as his first order of business upon being sworn in yesterday.

He argued that the policy places an unnecessary burden on the shoulders of low-income motorists, some of whom may not always have the funds to reload their electronic toll collection (ETC) accounts.

“My personal view – and I’ve communicated this to TRB (Toll Regulatory Board) – is that having a fully cashless system is not pro-poor. It is anti-poor,” Dizon said in a press briefing at Malacañang.

“The need to regulate should not make life harder for people. It should make life easier. And I believe this cashless system, in its current form, would make life more difficult,” he added.

The Toll Regulatory Board (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.

Under the policy, vehicles without radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers would still be allowed entry into toll plazas for installation but would face penalties for non-compliance.

Dizon, however, ordered the TRB to halt the plan indefinitely, saying the system must first be made more efficient.

He questioned whether toll barriers and RFID scanners were working reliably, emphasizing that a flawed system would only add to commuters’ frustrations.

“If we are still facing these issues and the system is not near perfect, then maybe it’s not the right time to go fully cashless,” he said.

Dizon added that he will work with toll operators San Miguel Corporation and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation to improve the system before reconsidering its implementation.

“For now, we are not going cashless for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport)  welcomed the indefinite suspension of totally cashless toll collection at the country’s key expressways, saying the administration has acted positively to their appeal.

 In an interview, PhilExport president Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., said aside from being unnecessarily burdensome to motorists, RFID technology is already obsolete.

“I don’t know why they are still insisting on using RFID… it is a ‘cash trap’ to less-privileged motorists. We [PhilExport] asked for this suspension [of cashless toll collection] because we received numerous complaints… even from the business sector,” he told the Manila Standard.

In an earlier statement, PhilExport expressed concerns over the continued use of the outdated RFID system, despite its replacement by more advanced and efficient technologies in neighboring countries like Singapore and Hong Kong.

“While we support efforts to modernize and streamline government processes, the Cashless Toll Policy, as it currently stands, is both extortionary and anti-poor. It places an unnecessary financial burden on ordinary Filipinos, especially those who rely on tollways for daily commuting,” Ortiz-Luis wrote.

“We should be looking at more efficient alternatives, such as the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which is already available in the Philippines and could be linked to electronic payment options like credit or debit cards,” he noted.

As this developed, the newly-minted Transportation Secretary said President Marcos’ marching orders are for him to fast-track key infrastructure projects to ease the daily struggles of commuters.

Dizon emphasized the president’s concern for improving public services, particularly in the transportation sector because it affects millions of Filipinos daily.

“The president really feels the pain of our people. That’s why the first thing he said was, all these projects have to be fast-tracked,” he said.

Among the priority projects is the Metro Manila Subway, which Dizon called a “game-changer” that would bring the Philippines closer to having a world-class transport system similar to those in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

“I hope that in our lifetime, we all get to experience a subway system that works efficiently,” he said.

Dizon also stressed the importance of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which aims to improve connectivity between Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

He said a reliable rail system could help ease congestion by allowing workers from Bulacan or Pampanga to commute to business districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City without needing to relocate.

Other key projects include regional airport upgrades, particularly in tourist destinations such as Siargao and Palawan.

Dizon said the government is also looking to privatize airport operations to ensure better management, provided contracts protect both the government and passengers.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Dizon suspends ‘anti-poor’ cashless toll collection.”