Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) — Fancy a road trip from Baguio to Batangas during the Holy Week holidays next year?
That may be possible as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Wednesday said it is in talks with the companies operating the toll systems of the 13 major expressways in Luzon to implement the Toll Collection Interoperability Agreement.
“Making our toll systems interoperable will definitely bring a new level of convenience to our motorists, especially during peak seasons,” said Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade.
The agreement will require toll road companies to “make the necessary tweaks in their toll collection systems to make them interoperable and integrated,” the transportation department said in a statement.
The DoTr said it may take six months for the first phase of the interoperability agreement to be implemented. This phase will cover electronic toll collection, or vehicles using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The second phase to take place in another six months will then cover cash collection interoperability, it added.
“For motorists using electronic tags, this means they can seamlessly use their electronic tag from one toll road operator in the toll road of another operator,” it said.
“For motorists still paying in cash, this means that in connected toll roads operated by different companies, they only have to get a ticket once at entry, and pay once at exit, regardless of which toll road they enter and exit from,” the DoTr added.
Secretary Tugade acknowledged the 16 toll road companies for their eagerness to promote a better motoring experience.
“They have always demonstrated that they are willing to work together and work with the government if that means giving motorists, their customers, a better travel experience,” he said.
The 16 toll road companies operating 13 expressways in Luzon are:
Ayala Corp.
Cavitex Infrastructure Corp.
Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp.
MCX Tollway Inc.
MPCALA Holdings Inc.
Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.
NLEX Corp.
PEA Tollway Corp.
Private Infra Development Corp.
San Miguel Holdings Corp.
Skyway O&M Corp.
South Luzon Tollways Corp.
Star Infrastructure Development Corp.
Tollway Management Corp.
Vertex Tollways Development Inc.
The Toll Collection Interoperability Agreement also includes the Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Office, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
