MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Starting Tuesday, August 22, electronic cards are now accepted at all expressways under the management of Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC).
These tollways include the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), Coastal Road, and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) — all four roads will accept electronic payment modes particularly the Beep Card, which is used in metro trains and buses, and other e-payment systems such as the credit and debit cards from Mastercard and PayMaya.
The RFID platform used in Cavitex on the other hand, can now be utilized at NLEX.
For now, Mastercard can only be used at NLEX, but beginning next week, the same card can be applied at SCTEX and CAVITEX for toll payments.
According to a Metro Pacific Tollways Corp (MPTC) executive, they’re just giving motorists alternative modes of payment for accessing the tollways.
“Whatever your preference for payments, whether it’s going be cash, or you want electronic payments, motorists will now have a choice,” said Rodrigo Franco, MPTC president and chief executive.
Further stressing that the use of electronic cards can speed up payment at the toll booth. Saying that a cash transaction takes around ten seconds to complete while e-payment — by just tapping the card on a reader — cuts the process in half.
MPTC added that the tollways management is currently fixing their system so that motorist will also be able to use their Visa and JCB debit or credit cards.
Aside from the electronic payment modes, MPTC management has updated their CCTV and traffic monitoring system to digital at NLEX and SCTEX as part of the company’s Digital Tollways Program.
“Our goal with these payment options is to allow our motorist and customers experience more convenience whenever they travel the Metro Pacific expressways. But more than just the convenience building our digital tollways, digital payments help us usher in a new era of tollways operations. Our aspiration is to see more Filipinos enjoy faster, more secure and, more convenient electronic transaction,” Franco said.