SMC ready to comply with full cashless toll collection directive

The leadership of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has expressed its readiness to put its tollways under full cashless payment method.

The payment scheme, to be implemented on November 2, is in line with the order from the Department of Transportation (DOTr)— Department Order (DO) 2020-012 dated August 13, 2020—that requires contactless and cashless payment transactions in tollways to help prevent the possible transmission of the dreaded COVID-19.

The said toll collection scheme will be utilized at the Skyway system, the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) tollway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

According to SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, they have already implemented systems reconfiguration and the setting up of additional lanes on the expressways, together with the free installation of RFID stickers for all types of vehicles.

“We have completed the reconfiguration of these cashless lanes to help ensure a smooth transition and hopefully, minimal delays for motorists. Implementing this measure is a priority for us because it is in line with government health regulations and it will better protect both our motorists and expressway employees,” Ang said.

“We support government policy to go cashless. We also believe it will stem the spread of the virus even as we keep transportation and mobility open and efficient. I would like to remind the public: For your added convenience and safety, please avail now of your free RFID stickers at our toll plazas. There are no requirements, so it will be very quick and easy,” he added.

Ang said that the Skyway now has 130 Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)-capable lanes; SLEX has 134 lanes; NAIAX with 36 lanes and STAR at 58 lanes. Meanwhile, TPLEX has 37 ETC lanes being upgraded to 52.

Meanwhile, toll tellers who will be affected by lane automation will be reassigned to other areas of the tollways, including the new Skyway Stage 3 and the SMC Tollways’ RFID department.

“While this transition is necessary to help fight the spread of the virus, the welfare of our employees remains a priority for us, especially at this critical time. Our employees will not be displaced. Instead, we will find postings for them that are suited to their skills and competency,” Ang said.

The SMC tollways group has implemented the “RFID To Go” where the sticker can be installed at the lanes with a minimum P200 load for Class 1 vehicles, and an amount equivalent to farthest toll for Class 2 and 3 vehicles.

As early as June, SMC had already announced the full implementation of full cashless transactions on its expressways.

According to them the first phase of SMC Tollways pla—which covers the elevated section of the Skyway, NAIAX and SLEX–should take effect ‪‪starting October 15 this year.

Public utility vehicles (PUVs) and fleet accounts may also want to check www.autosweeprfid.com and follow the steps listed at the website.

More reloading stations have also been added. These are commonly located at:

Skyway and NAIAX

Open 24/7

• C5 CSC Southbound
• Old NAIAX-Drive Thru Westbound

Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Petron Commerce
• Petron C5
• Petron Dasmarinas
• Petron NAIAX
• Petron Valle Verde
• C5 Toll Plaza Northbound
• NAIAX Main Toll Plaza A
• NAIAX Main Toll Plaza B

Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Shell Magallanes

Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Bicutan Toll Plaza Northbound
• Nichols Toll Plaza Southbound
• Runway Toll Plaza Northbound
• Sucat Southbound After Exit

SLEX

Open 24/7

• After Calamba Entry Toll Gate
• Southwoods Toll Plaza Northbound
• Eton Toll Plaza Northbound

Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Southwoods CSC Northbound
• Southwoods CSC Southbound
• Ayala Greenfield CSC
• Sta Rosa CSC Northbound
• Rosa Southbound
• MaTES Office Silangan Northbound
• Petron Evia
• Shell Mamplasan
• Petron San Pedro
• Shell Putatan
• Filinvest Toll Plaza
• Mamplasan Toll Plaza Northbound
• Mamplasan Toll Plaza Southbound
• Susana Heights Toll Plaza Southbound
• Cabuyao Toll Plaza Southbound

STAR

Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Star Toll Lipa CSC (Tambo Exit)
• Petron Lipa
• Petron Malvar

Open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Batangas Drive Thru Southbound
• Sto Tomas Drive Thru Northbound
• Lipa Drive Thru Southbound

TPLEX

Open 24/7

• TPLEX Tarlac Main Office Northbound

Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Petron Pura Northbound
• Petron Pura Southbound

Open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Carmen Toll Plaza
• Pura Toll Plaza
• Rosario Toll Plaza
• Tarlac Toll Plaza
• Urdaneta Toll Plaza
• Victoria Toll Plaza

Motorists may reload their RFID account online through G-cash, Coins.ph and online payment platform, www.JustPay.To as well as through select banks like Bank of Commerce, Union Bank, Maybank, Chinabank, BPI, and EON by Union Bank.

They can also pay for the account over-the-counter at Treats, Savemore, SM Bills Pay, SM Business Services, SM Hypermarket, WalterMart, 7 Eleven, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Family Mart, Rustans, SHOPEWISE, Western Union, LBC, ExpressPay, Truemoney, Tambunting and RD Pawnshop and also through self-service kiosks such as TouchPay, ECPay, and E-Tap.

Earlier, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chief Communication Officer Junji Quimbo said that the MPTC will be able to achieve the all-cashless payment system before the year ends.

“The MPTC group RFID program is already underway. We are on track to comply with DOTr directive and achieve the all cashless system by November 2,” Quimbo told Carmudi.

Like SMC, the MPTC has also expressed its full support for the order of the government that requires cashless and contactless transactions on expressways.

Photo/s from San Miguel Corporation

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