TRB: Tollway operators ready for cashless transaction; extends installation of RFID stickers beyond Nov 2

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has confirmed the readiness of toll operators to implement the electronic toll collection system at their respective tollways on November 2, 2020.

Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Abraham Sales welcomed the readiness of the expressway operators to shift to contactless transactions, as he stressed that the directive of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) mandating the implementation of cashless toll collection takes effect on November 2 as a measure to promote contactless transactions, and as a means to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic.

ED Sales noted that although all expressways will be implementing cashless toll collections, motorists without RFID stickers will still be allowed entry to the toll plaza, but will be led to an area where their vehicles will be provided with the RFID stickers.

“It’s all systems go at the toll roads. All lanes will be RFID lanes. Those without RFID stickers will be allowed entry to the toll plaza and will be led to a nearby area for their RFID subscription before being allowed to proceed with their expressway travel. Further, to avoid overcrowding at toll plazas and to accommodate infrequent toll road users, the operators have extended the RFID installation.” Sales said.

The DOTr earlier issued Department Order 2020-012 which ordered cashless toll collections at the expressways in line with the government’s thrust to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to facilitate ease of passage. Under the Order, the TRB, an attached agency of the DOTr, shall ensure that operators install electronic tags or other cashless systems for all motorists and motor vehicles using the expressways and transact only thru the cashless mode of payment.

MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), the C5 Link and the the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) expressways. The SMC meanwhile operates the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System, the NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

MPTC extends RFID installation beyond November 2

In a statement, the MPTC said that its toll roads are ready for the electronic toll collection.

However, MPTC is aware that this is also a transition period for the motorists who have paid cash for the longest time.

Thus, motorists who will not have Easytrip RFID stickers installed by November 2 will still be allowed passage in NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C5 Link and CALAX, but will be directed to the RFID installation lanes where they can have their RFID stickers installed. The corresponding toll fee charge for their passage on that particular day will then be deducted from the initial load that they paid in getting the RFID stickers.

“We will convert some of the remaining cash lanes in all toll plazas of MPTC expressways to RFID installation lanes. At the same time, the off-site customer service stations will continue to operate and install RFID stickers,” MPTC Chief of Technology and MPT South President and General Manager Roberto V. Bontia said, adding that, “the stickers will remain to be free except for the initial load.”

This means that motorists can still have the RFID stickers installed on their vehicles even beyond November 2, 2020.

MPTC said it will open RFID installation lanes in all entry toll plazas to serve motorists who are yet to install their Easytrip RFID even after November 2. Aside from drive-thru installation lanes, other RFID installation and reloading sites in various locations will remain open. At NLEX-SCTEX, there will also be drive-thru reloading lanes in Balintawak, Mindanao, Bocaue, Angeles, and Tipo. RFID Assist Squads will also be positioned at the toll plaza to help motorists. At CALAX, tents will be installed along lanes to augment the number of booths.

The tollway company also reminds the public to avail of their Easytrip RFID stickers at authorized customer service stations, the location may be found in NLEX-SCTEX, CAVITEX-C5 Link and CALAX social media pages.

SMC-operated tollways extend RFID installation up to 30 November

Meanwhile, SMC expressways will also extend to November 30 the free installation of its Autosweep RFID stickers, as it expressed readiness to start a 100% cashless toll collection operation on Nov 2.

In a statement, the SMC said a surge in the number of motorists rushing to convert to the Autosweep RFID system have resulted in long queues at the installation stations, particularly over the past two weeks. Many motorists have yet to secure their RFID stickers, even as the date of implementation draws near, the SMC added in a statement.

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 in a statement.

“This means that from Nov. 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,” SMC added.

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 Skyway, SLEX, NAIAX, STAR Tollways and TPLEX.

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.

Praising women now by saying "Magandang Bilat"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Did you see that? A powerful and daring entrance coming form Miss Iloilo City, Rabiya Mateo. She indeed deserve the best in swimsuit award! Crown this very elegant lady now. But wait.... there's more "Magandang Bilat" coming out to greet us.

"Magandang Bilat" is one of the hottest trending topic now in the Philippines with currently over 9,508 tweets. 

Now also in the Philippines, we don’t tell girls “You’re so pretty”, instead we say “Magandang bilat, puso ko’y nahalina” and I think that’s beautiful! Lol!

Again, in the Philippines, instead of saying "I love you" we say "Magandang Bilat" which directly translates to "You glow just like a full moon" and I think that's beautiful!

Are you also one of us who can't unheard the words "Magandang Bilat?" “Oh Magandang bilat” be playing on my mind non-stop!

Imagine mishearing the lyrics while on stage trying to look your best when you're from Davao city and you know exactly how meaningful bilat is.

I know it said Magandang dilag, but the ok se horny peeps like us hear otherwise.

Filo moots, please tell me I understood it correctly. Magandang Bilat means beautiful vagina, right?! i should've said "pretty pussy" cuz it sounds more... poetic?? 

Feeling ko yung Magandang Bilat magkakaroon na ng dance step sa Tiktok soon.

From now on, oomfs, Always remember that you’re a magandang bilat and don’t let pangit na betlogs tell you otherwise.

It was the background music during the Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2020 swimsuit competition portion. It's actually "Magandang Dilag" but you can also hear bilat instead. No offense but the song was catchy and nice to hear.

Women Empowerment in a nutshell: 

Yes to Magandang Bilat

No to Bahog Bilat

Gosh! I can't stand to this. It's a mean word in our Cebuano culture. Cebuanos do not say that word as much as we do in  English or Tagalog. Hahaha!

Miss Taguig Sandra Lemonon is not making lemonade but spilling the tea for Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"When life gives you lemons, spill the tea!"

May pa-tsaa si Sandra Lemonon. "Guuurrl, if you're not watching untucked, you're only getting half the story."

Seeing Miss Taguig Sandra Lemonon's mystory in Instagram makes people say that she's a sour loser and doesn't accept the fact that she lost. Should she get over it and move on, or continue to spill the tea? Whatever she does, we'll support her right to do it.

I have nothing against Rabiya Mateo winning but why are y'all cancelling Sandra Lemonon already? Don't you wanna know the truth? You seem to be very afraid of the tea she's gonna spill. Let's wait for it. After all, we deserve to know what really happened.

Ya'll keep telling people to fight and use their voices when injustices happen but you also dismiss Sandra Lemonon and call her a "sour loser" the moment she tells her side. Let her speak for something she experienced firsthand.

If Sandra has something to share about unfairness that happened at the Miss Universe Philippines, then she is entitled to do so. A phenomenal woman is someone who can voice out her opinions about injustices. Also, wala pa nga sinasabi binabash na? 

Why didn't she speak out right from the start? Hinintay muna matapos bago tumahol? Indeed, the crown wont fit her and will never be. Spreading bitterness through social media? Instead raising her opinion and issue towards management. 

Sandra lost twice to catriona pero hindi siya nagsalita about it she accepted it but this time I think she's not bitter or salty she just want to speak not only for herself but to all the contestant.

She is a Mental Health advocate and it's normal to seek justice. I'm not taking anyone's side but at least let's hear her out rather than silencing her.

May rumors na may glam team daw si Miss Rabiya and it's unfair. Pero let's say na may glam team sila lahat pero panget naman performance. Mananalo ba sila? 

Sandra isn't my bet but she is a performer. By spilling tea doesnt mean, that one is bitter. Someone has to speak up if she felt injustice because thats what she felt and she was the one who's there. 

Does Gumabao and Lemonon unfollowing Rabiya mean something?

Sandra Lemonon just replied to the IG story of Bininibing Pilipinas Universe 2011 Shamcey Supsup-Lee...and the developments seem to be very ugly.

We really don't know what's the truth. What if may something nga?? 

Lets see tomorrow as the tweet exchange continues. Its hard to accept defeat if the game isnt fair at all. Lets wait.

When there's injustice, then fight for what is right. Speaking up against injustices only shows that she's a real queen.

Now look at Miss Biliran's tweet before she deactivated her Twitter account

Controversies in beauty pageants are nothing new. There are several issues throughout the years across the different pageants both local and international where involvement could either be among the sponsors and the candidates themselves. In fact, not all issues get a chance to be picked up by the media since many would just set it aside for personal reasons.

Until we get a clearer explanation from Sandra, we will still be guessing what really transpired behind the glamorous stage of Miss Universe Philippines 2020.