AFTER RFID CHAOS

NLEX cash lanes back at some toll plazas

Cash lanes were seen at some toll plazas of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Monday, two weeks after the cashless RFID payment system was implemented.

The cash lanes were spotted at the big toll plazas such as those in Bocaue, Balintawak and Tabang, according to reports by Darlene Cay on GMA's Unang Hirit and Unang Balita.

Smaller exits such as the one in Tambubo, Bulacan only have RFID lanes.

Many motorists were seen lining up at the cash lanes at the Balintawak toll plaza, according to a report by Allan Gatus on Dobol B sa News TV.

The cash lanes also serve as reloading lane for RFID stickers.

The emergency lanes were removed to give way to the cash lanes.

Motorists wanting to have RFID stickers installed may have it done near the weighing scale after the toll plaza.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chief communications officer Romulo Quimbo said they learned that bringing back cash lanes was what the Office of the President and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority wanted.

This was also the appeal of some local government units.

MPTC is the concession holder of NLEX, Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAEX), Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and the NLEX Connector.

Motorists welcomed the move to bring cash lanes back, saying that if their RFID sticker could not be read by the sensor, they would have an option to pay in cash.

A toll holiday however is still in effect in areas on NLEX under the jurisdiction of Valenzuela City.

The cashless RFID payment system was implemented on Dec. 1 at tollways such as NLEX, as per an order of the Department of Transportation.

However, heavy traffic stretching for kilometers formed at NLEX toll plazas as motorists scrambled to have RFID stickers installed on their vehicles.

Some RFID stickers however could not be read by sensors at NLEX due to glitches, forcing motorists to go on reverse and transfer to other lanes, contributing to further traffic.

The Valenzuela City local government suspended the business permit of NLEX Corporation due to the RFID issues, resulting in a toll holiday for motorists.

Representatives of Valenzuela City LGU and NLEX Corp. are set to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday to discuss the matter. 

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian however on Sunday said the meeting would not automatically result in the lifting of the suspension of NLEX Corp.'s business permit. —KG, GMA News