Smart to develop alternative toll payment scheme

Smart Communications Inc. and Manila North Tollways Corp. on Wednesday said they have partnered to develop an alternative toll payment scheme using the cellphones of motorists passing through the North Luzon Expressway. Under a memorandum of understanding between Smart and MNTC, the telecom firm will co-develop with the tollway concessionaire a value adding payment system using ‘Smart Money.’ Smart Money is a secure, re-loadable electronic cash card that can be linked to a mobile phone. Through the card, a Smart user can easily pay bills, and transfer funds to another Smart Money card. "Partnering with MNTC is a significant step towards our vision of creating a Smart Mobility Loop, which aims to eventually make the Smart Money card a universal payment tool for land, air, and sea transportation services. This innovation will make commuting more convenient for our 25 million Smart and Talk 'N Text subscribers," Smart president Napoleon Nazareno said. Payment via Smart Money will be an alternative to the existing NLEX EC Tag system. Reloading of the EC Tag via ‘Smart Money’ will be available by Holy Week. "With our tie-up with Smart, we can enhance our own electronic payment system and create another payment option to give NLEX users added convenience. By using Smart Money, Smart subscribers can reload their EC Tag accounts anytime, anywhere," MNTC president Jose de Jesus said. Danilo Mojica, Smart head for wireless consumer division, said the cellular firm also intends to release the Smart Money Pay Pass card in the second quarter, which will make paying toll fees at the NLEX even easier. “The Smart Money Pay Pass card will also be convenient for both the driver and the toll collector since it is cashless, and exact payments will be made. It will also help lessen queuing at the toll lanes," de Jesus said. MNTC is the builder and concessionaire of the new NLEX, the 84-kilometer world-class tollway system that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon.-GMANews.TV