Skyway, SLEX, TPLEX, NAIAX, STAR to go cashless

All San Miguel Corp. tollways to go cashless soon

Riders of motorcycles with engine displacement of 400cc and above should consider installing an RFID. San Miguel Corporation President and COO, Ramon Ang, announced that all the tollways San Miguel Infrastructure operates will soon go cashless in the hopes of fighting the spread of COVID-19. The tollways will be come cashless in phases beginning October 15, 2020.

That means the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollways), and the Tarlac-Pangasinan - La Union Expressway (TPLEX) will no longer accept cash transactions. All toll booths will be converted to accept RFID only.

The move to go 100% RFID was recommended by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) through the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Earlier, the LTFRB also directed all toll operators to give “free installation of RFID for vehicles using expressways as a means to limit direct hand contact for toll payments and ensure social distancing measures.” This means cashless transactions at tollways and expressways.

An RFID (Radio-frequency identification) tag uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track specific objects it is attached to. An RFID tag consists of a tiny radio transponder; a radio receiver and transmitter.

The first phase of the SMC Tollways plan involves converting the elevated section of the Skyway, NAIAX, and SLEX. This will take effect starting October 15, 2020. The second phase will cover the at-grade sections of the three tollways and include STAR Tollways in southern Luzon and TPLEX in northern Luzon starting January 2021.

The LTFRB directive covers PUVs, such as buses, jeepneys, and utility vans. SMC, however, proactively encourages all types of vehicles, including expressways-legal motorcycles, to shift into the cashless RFID system.

“We are committed to protecting motorists and our tollway operators and ensuring that everyone’s health is safeguarded by limiting personal contact and going 100% RFID on toll roads that we operate,” Ang said.

Getting RFID will be convenient and accessible with a scheme called “RFID To Go” where the sticker can be installed at the lanes with a minimum PHP200 load for Class 1 vehicles and an amount equivalent to farthest toll for Classes 2 and 3.

 PUVs and fleet accounts may visit www.autosweeprfid.com and follow the steps listed on the website. 

 Supporting documents are no longer required for all applications, including “RFID To Go” and website-based.