The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has ordered expressway operators to conduct a dry-run of the contactless toll collection program on selected toll plazas for two months starting 1 September this year.
The mandate is in line with the resolution passed by the committee on transportation at the House of Representatives re-implementing the program.
“The dry-run is a necessary procedure to ascertain the readiness of the tollway concessionaires and operators for the smooth and efficient re-implementation of the contactless program,” TRB said.
It was recalled that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued Department Order 2020-12 dated 13 August 2020 requiring cashless or contactless transactions for all vehicles traveling on toll expressways.
“The purpose is initially as a measure to mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 and subsequently as a means to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic within the expressways,” TRB said.
“However, due to numerous complaints received during the implementation of the program way back in November 2020 brought about by various constraints and glitches in the electronic toll collection (ETC) system, the DOTr issued an addendum dated 29 January 2021 allowing vehicles with no RFID stickers and requiring cash lanes in all toll plazas. This addendum remains effective as of this time,” the regulator said.
Aside from the regular performance audit on the ETCs of expressways, the TRB also conducted special performance audits from 23 February to 22 June 22 this year.
The TRB audit team assessed 717 of the 852 or 84 percent of currently operating toll lanes. The remaining 135 toll lanes, or 16 percent, are operated as cash lanes and will be tested once converted into ETC lanes.
Several toll plazas and toll lanes passed the 98 percent readability rate while some expressways passed the parameters on account management.
Based on these results, the TRB TCS Audit Team recommended that a two-month dry-run be conducted on selected qualified toll plazas. This was approved by the multi-agency members of the TRB in its regular meeting held on July 28, 2023.
