Vehicles pass through the Balintawak tollway along the North Luzon Expressway in Caloocan City on October 22, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The Toll Regulatory Board called on motorists using toll expressways to make sure to have Electronic Toll Collection or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers installed on their vehicles. 

Julius Corpuz, TRB spokesperson, reminded motorists the cashless/contactless payments would be reimplemented on March 15 in all expressways under the TRB's jurisdiction.

"Kami ay nagsusumamo sa mga natitirang motorista, around 3% na lang, na patuloy pa na nagbabayad ng cash... We are highly encouraging you na sana before umabot ang March 15 ay nakapagpakabit na po ng RFID stickers," he said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo on Sunday. 

He said that toll operators are providing installation and loading services inside and outside the expressway premises.

"Sa Easytrip, there are around 30 plus at may mga caravans na ginagawa nila. Dito naman po sa parte ng Autosweep, there are 51 installation and loading stations," said Corpuz.

"They would want na maging madali at konbinyente sa mga motorista na nagbabayad pa ng cash na magswitch na po sa RFID." 

READ: Contactless payment policy on tollways back on March 15

He reminded motorists that the installation is free and there will be no maintaining balance. 

"Ang hinihiling namin ay maglagay sila ng sapat ng load upang mabayaran ng gamit nila sa pang-araw-araw lamang," said the TRB executive. 

He said that 97 percent of motorists passing through the country's expressways already have valid ETCs.

Corpuz said anyone caught driving through the expressways without RFIDs will be allowed to pass provided that they pay the toll fee and risk being penalized.

"The penalty for the first offense for no valid RFID is P1,000," he said.

He also reminded motorists to avoid the hassle of long lines at installation areas. 

"Ang nangyayari wait for last minute to happen... Humahaba ang pila nagkakaproblema tuloy," he said. "Nakiki-usap kami, may isang buwan pa po kayong panahon, magpakabit na kayo ng RFID."

The policy was suspended last September due to technical issues and to give the public time to get used to contactless payments.

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