Going digital at the toll booths

MANILA, Philippines — We said a couple of years ago there must be a way to further quicken transactions at every toll plaza in any expressway.

This way, we can get to our destinations faster.

When can motorists pay at the toll without rolling down the windows, or without stretching their hand to pay and waiting for a receipt?

Can’t motorists simply slow down a bit, just pass through, and then flawlessly drive away?

All these are now possible with all expressways of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

MPTC has gone mainly digital under its recently launched program billed MPTC Digital Program. The program has been introduced for motorists of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

MPTC has already started with cashless transactions with the Auto Sweep Radio-frequency identification (RFID) electronic toll collection system. From Easy Drive, this is a RFID sticker that has an antenna and a chip embedded inside.

The sticker is installed onto a clean upper area of the windshield or the driver’s side headlamp lens – anywhere where it can be scanned by the RFID reader while one passes through a toll booth.

MPTC has recently added a new feature in their toll booths, where motorists can now choose among the RFID stickers, e-cards or the standard cash payment.

With Easy Trip RFID, Mastercard contactless cards, and beep cards – a motorist can just tap his or her way through. This is definitely a true turning point for the country’s transition to e-payment transactions.

The digital program features a machine, called the Toll Fare Indicator (TFI), which indicates whether the transaction was successful or not. The RFID sticker can last up to 10 years.

MPTC has advised motorists, who have not tried the digital options, by telling the toll booth teller. The teller will accommodate an inquiry or a purchase in a designated area within the toll plaza.

And with the addition of this technology in the expressway, there’s no doubt that the queue won’t be as long or slow like before.

MPTC, the most quality- and service-oriented tollway operator, continues to find ways to make it easy on the motorist to transact business with us, according to an MPTC official.

“There’s always something refreshing about having the chance to drive away from the city, and negotiating a long road trip,” MPTC said.

When one goes digital in paying toll, he or she opens a window – not to pay cash – but to feel the breeze. It’s a way to unload stress and relax, finally releasing the tension of the past days of work.