You can use your AutoSweep on NLEX and Easytrip on SLEX soon

MANILA: The DOTr (Department of Transportation), through the TRB (Toll Regulatory Board) is pushing for operators of various expressways in the country to hasten the implementation of toll interoperability.

Called the Toll Collection Interoperability project, it was launched in 2017 but is only now getting fast-tracked in order to facilitate the movement of motorists amid the pandemic while also reducing the transmission of the virus by using cashless transactions.

Phase 1 is already underway and requires the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Autosweep tags issued by the San Miguel Group for the Skyway, SLEX, STAR Tollway, TPLEX, NAIAx, and the MCX will be readable at the Easytrip System on the NLEX, SCTEX, Cavitex, C5 Southlink, and CALAX using two accounts.

Registration is required for motorists to use their RFID tags issued by a toll road operator at the toll plaza of another operator. As of May, the TRB reports that there are more than 700,000 Autosweep RFID tags that are qualified for registration.

During Phase 2 of the program, Easystrip RFID tags issued by the Metro Pacific Group for the NLEX, SCTEX, Cavitex, C-5 Southlink and CALAX, will become readable at the Autosweep System or at the Skyway, SLEX, STAR Tollway, TPLEX, NAIAx, and MCX using two accounts.

“We are grateful to our private partners who have always demonstrated their unparalleled support in this project. We need their assistance to fast-track the needed measures in order to fully implement toll interoperability. Hindi ho namin ito kakayanin mag-isa. Tulung-tulong ‘ho tayo muli at dahil sa kinakaharap nating krisis, kailangan nating bilisan (We cannot do this by ourselves. Let’s help each other again and because of the crisis we’re facing, we have to do this quickly),” said DOTr Secretary Tugade.

“We fully support the DOTr and its initiative of unifying toll collection across all expressways. We have been working with them and the other operators and stakeholders on this project for some time. We look forward to providing this convenience to motorists, especially in our situation now, when electronic toll collection is necessary to help ensure the safety of the public and our tollway employees,” said San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President and COO Ramon Ang.

“The MPTC fully supports the DOTr’s drive for interoperability of toll collections in all the expressways. The scheme complements our program to promote contactless and cashless toll transactions in our own tollway facilities, especially during this time of pandemic. Motorists deserve fast, convenient and hygienic toll services,” added Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President and CEO Rodrigo Franco.

For his part, MCX Tollway, Inc. President Noel Eli B. Kintanar joined, "The Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) fully supports the DOTr's Toll Interoperability Program. This will bring greater convenience to all expressway patrons, and more importantly, will help the government's efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 through cashless and contactless toll payments.” Motorists are urged to register in order to use this service to make their travels much easier and safer as well.

“The service has been going on for almost three years now and more people need to be aware that they can make use of it for a faster and hassle-free travel. So, we also encourage our motorists to have their vehicles registered and switch to a more efficient way of using our tollways through RFID tags,” said TRB Executive Director Abraham Sales.

Photos from Autosweep and Easytrip

Also read: SLEX, Skyway, NAIAX, STAR, and TPLEX initiate shift to cashless payment