SMC expressways ready for cashless tolls but shift to RFID extended to November 30

Tollways of San Miguel Corp. (SMC)—the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (Slex), the Skyway System, Naia Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPlex)—are ready to implement full cashless toll collection on November 2, as mandated by the government, the company said in a statement.

However, the surge in the number of motorists rushing to convert to the Autosweep RFID system has resulted in long queues at the installation stations, particularly these past two weeks. As such, many motorists have yet to secure their RFID stickers, even as the date of implementation draws near.

For this reason, the company said it would be extending the issuance of its free RFID stickers to November 30.

“By November 2, all lanes at our toll plazas will be fully capable and converted to electronic toll collection, in full compliance with the government’s mandate. However, after careful study and deliberation, and especially in consideration of so many motorists who have not been able to secure an Autosweep RFID account because of the volume of applications we have today, we have decided to extend the deadline to November 30,” the company said.

“This means that from November 2 to 30, vehicles without RFID will still be allowed to enter the expressways. Hopefully, this will give more time for motorists to get their RFID stickers,” the company said.

However, SMC emphasized that November 30 will be the absolute deadline. After which, vehicles without RFID stickers will not be allowed to enter SMC-operated tollways including the Skyway, Slex, NaiaX, STAR Tollways and TPlex.

Motorists who do not conform to the government mandate will have to be apprehended and issued a citation ticket, it said.

To provide more convenience to motorists, SMC has set up installation and reloading lanes at toll plaza entry points, in addition to the installation and reloading stations already set up in strategic locations in Metro Manila and Luzon provinces.

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Article and Photo originally posted by Business Mirror last October 23, 2020..