'Anti-poor': Dizon orders suspension of cashless toll collection

Manila Bulletin

Newly installed Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said he has ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend the implementation of cashless toll collection on major expressways, citing previous issues and concerns about its impact on lower-income motorists.  Dizon said this ahead of the shift to a fully cashless system on March 15.  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/21/dizon-suspends-cashless-toll-collection  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manilabulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Sorry, I have a public service announcement, and I'm wondering why I'm not asking you.

00:09I'm expecting that question.

00:10TRB had an announcement the other day that NREX and SREX will be cashless.

00:16Okay.

00:17I'm telling you right now, I've already told TRB to suspend that.

00:21Okay?

00:22Cashless.

00:23Cashless means there will be no cash gain.

00:27And I will tell you why.

00:29Number one, this was tried already in the past.

00:40Several years ago.

00:42And we probably all remember what happened in Bagintawak and in other choke points on NREX and SREX.

00:49It went viral.

00:51Because I guess for whatever reason, the information was not disseminated, etc.

00:56So, I want to first work with the two tall operators, MPTC and San Miguel.

01:04And let's look at the system first.

01:08Is there a way to make it more efficient?

01:10Is it okay?

01:11Are all the barriers working?

01:12Are all the RFIDs being read?

01:15Because if we still have a problem like that, and our system is not yet perfect,

01:20maybe it's not yet time for us to go cashless.

01:25But I have another reason.

01:27For me, my personal opinion, and I've communicated this already to TRB,

01:32having a cashless system is not pro-poor.

01:38It is anti-poor.

01:39Why?

01:41Maybe for us here, because I know your salary is high,

01:44you can afford to go on an easy trip and an auto-sweep of P2,000, P3,000, P5,000.

01:53For Ivan, maybe P10,000.

01:55Right?

01:57But what about our fellow countrymen who have a tight budget?

02:03Right?

02:05They won't be able to afford it.

02:06Or what if they forget to load because they are tired?

02:11Their balance is negative or zero negative.

02:13What will they do if they go cashless?

02:17It will be a nightmare again.

02:20It will make things difficult for people.

02:24Right?

02:25I think there should be a change in mindset.

02:28Right?

02:29I understand the need to regulate.

02:31I understand that.

02:33But the need to regulate should not result in making the lives of people difficult.

02:41People's lives should be affected, not made difficult.

02:44Right?

02:45This cashless system, I think, will make it difficult.

02:50That's why I'm not calling for it.

02:52Maybe when the time comes when the system is perfect,

02:57But right now, I don't believe in it.

03:00So I ask them to stop it.

03:02And I've already sent word to the toll operators that we're not going cashless on March 15.

03:07And we are not going cashless for the foreseeable future.

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