Motorists urged to install RFID to improve travel experience amid holiday rush

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Sunday urged motorists to install RFID or Radio Frequency Identification on their vehicles to improve their travel experience along expressways during the Christmas rush.

“Lahat ng expressways natin ay pwede pa ring tumatanggap ng cash as payment for their toll,” Toll Regulatory Board spokesperson Julius Corpuz told Super Radyo dzBB.

“Subalit parati naman kaming nanghihikayat na kung pwede, mag-switch na rin sa RFID at maramdaman naman nila 'yung malaking kaibahan ng transaksiyon kung naka RFID sila,” he added.

(All our expressways accept cash as payment for their toll, but we also encourage motorists to switch to RFID so that they can experience the difference when they transact using the RFID.)

The “One RFID, All Tollways” initiative was launched in October to ensure smooth, seamless travel across Luzon’s expressway network through toll collection interoperability.

READ: How to get 'One RFID' for Luzon's expressways

Corpuz said vehicle buildup along expressways started after lunchtime on Friday, December 19, and lasted until 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Ang mapapansin in both NLEX and SLEX, hindi lang 'yung mga palabas ng Metro Manila ang gumamit ng expressways natin kahapon. Marami rin ang papunta ng Metro Manila,” Corpuz said.

(We observed that vehicles on the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway were not only leaving Metro Manila but also heading to it.)

However, he pointed out that traffic began to ease as vehicles passed through the exit points.

In a separate dzBB interview, Robin Ignacio, NLEX Traffic Operations assistant vice president, said implementing the counterflow scheme was challenging due to high vehicle volumes in both the northbound and southbound lanes.

He added that they observed the same situation on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ignacio also said NLEX personnel and the incident response team have been deployed to assist motorists.

NLEX implemented a free towing service from 6 a.m. on December 19 until 6 a.m. on December 22.

It will also be implemented from 6 a.m. on December 23 until 6 p.m. on December 25.

NLEX earlier announced that the expressway will be toll-free for Christmas and New Year's Day. It will be in effect from December 24, 10 p.m. to December 25, 6 a.m., and from December 31, 10 p.m, to January 1, 6 a.m. — RF, GMA Integrated News