DOTr Chief Vince Dizon Halts Cashless Toll Collection Implementation

Newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the suspension of the reimplementation of cashless toll collection across all Philippine expressways, citing efficiency concerns and its impact on low-income motorists.

The system, which was set to take effect on March 15, will now be on hold indefinitely as the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) reassesses its feasibility.

Dizon: “The System Is Not Ready”

At a press conference, Dizon recalled previous failed attempts at fully cashless toll collection, particularly the traffic chaos at Balintawak and other choke points along NLEX and SLEX.

“This was already tried before, and we all saw what happened—it was chaos,” he said.

Dizon stressed the need to evaluate whether:

✔ All toll barriers are functioning properly
✔ RFID scanners can efficiently read stickers on vehicles
✔ Toll operators MPTC and San Miguel are prepared to handle a seamless transition

“We need to check if the system works efficiently before going cashless. If we still have issues, why force it?” he added.

Cashless Toll Collection “Anti-Poor”

Beyond efficiency concerns, Dizon argued that a purely cashless system would disproportionately hurt low-income drivers who may struggle to maintain sufficient balances in their RFID accounts.

“Some of us here can load P2,000, P3,000, or even P10,000 into our EasyTrip or Autosweep accounts. But what about those who are living paycheck to paycheck?” he pointed out.

He also raised concerns about situations where:

🔹 A driver forgets to reload their RFID account after a long workday
🔹 A malfunctioning RFID scanner prevents a motorist from passing
🔹 Limited access to digital payment options in certain areas

“Why make life harder for people? Instead of helping, this will only add to their burden,” he said.

Suspension Until Further Notice

Dizon has officially notified toll operators that the full cashless system will not push through on March 15 or anytime soon.

“I don’t believe in this system at this time. Maybe when it’s perfected, we can reconsider. But right now, we are stopping it,” he firmly stated.

With this decision, motorists can continue using both cash and RFID payment options at tollways while the DOTr and TRB reassess the system’s efficiency and accessibility.