After all the noise and hullabaloo, all has been relatively quiet on the RFID front.
It doesn’t mean that there are no problems in the move to institute fully cashless transactions and tollway operators are continuously working to make processes more efficient, both for its operations and to provide more convenience for motorists.
One interesting development that points to the future of tollway collection is the pilot-implementation of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology at 25 toll lanes of the NLEX in Valenzuela City.
NLEX said ALPR technology uses smart cameras to read vehicle license plates and at this point, it is being used to help match RFID transactions, improve safety, and enforce traffic laws.
NLEX added that it helps in identifying vehicles passing the RFID lanes without RFID stickers, as well as those with insufficient balance, and vehicles that pose potential safety issues.
But it could be a major part of toll collection in the future. Imagine a system using RFID readers and ALPR to identifying and charging toll on all vehicles using tollways. No more need for barriers slowing vehicles at tollway entry and exit points.
Already the barriers in the Mindanao, Karuhatan, and Paso de Blas tollgates are kept raised.
Meanwhile, the NLEX continues to make it easier for motorists with Easytrip RFIDs to load and monitor accounts. The latest initiative is partnering with Smart Communications to enable topping up RFID loads by using Smart phones.
This is on top of an improved customer account management system that enables RFID subscribers to generate their own statements of account for monitoring and to self-enroll in the automatic debit arrangement for easier load replenishment.
The RFID antennas in 56 NLEX-SCTEX toll lanes are being realigned to boost reading efficiency and increase the number of toll lanes with ‘advanced reading’ feature to 188.
At the same time, 62 more toll lanes are being equipped with contactless Easytrip card readers, bringing the total number of toll lanes with card readers to 194.
No fare hikes
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Arthur Tugade vowed to extend the DOTr Free Ride Service Program for Health Workers, Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) to include Cavite.
Tugade made this promise during the inauguration of the new District Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Imus City earlier this month.
During his speech at the inauguration, Tugade also vowed no more fare hikes until the end of his term in office and while the country struggles to overcome and recover from effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Pakiusap ko lang mamang tsuper, mamang driver, bus operator wala ho akong patakaran na mag-aallow na i-increase n’yo ‘yung pamasahe because during my term, no increases in fare rates. ‘Wag nyong gawin ‘yan,” Tugade said.
CALAX Section 5
The Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) already has segments open benefitting around 10,000 motorists daily. These segments stretch from Sta. Rosa in Laguna to the Mamplasan interchange linking it to the South Luzon Expressway.
Soon another section will be added, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways and the MPCALA Holdings Inc. (MCHI).
This followed the inspection of the progress of CALAX Subsection 5, the 7.2-km, 2×2 lane expressway that will link Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road to Silang, Cavite.
Said DPWH Secretary Mark Villar after the inspection: “I am very pleased that despite the mobility challenges brought about by the pandemic, construction for CALAX Subsection 5 remains on track and would soon be made available to motorists in the third quarter of 2021. It is a vital portion of CALAX that would help accelerate economic progress of Region IV-A, as it links the two provinces of Cavite and Laguna.”
This is another welcome development in Cavite and Laguna as this section of CALAX is expected to serve 5,000 vehicles daily, helping decongest traffic along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
Villar said work is already in progress in other sections of the CALAX which is expected to be completed by 2022.
CALAX spans 45 kms with interchanges at Kawit, Governor’s Drive, Open Canal, Silang (Aguinaldo) Highway, Silang East, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, and Laguna Technopark. This will cut travel travel time between its end points to just under an hour from two hours.
SUZUKI extension
Those looking to bring home a Suzuki this summer have until the end of May to avail themselves of the Dzire to Excel, Ride in Style, and Suzuki Grand Deals promos.
Suzuki Philippines Inc. (SPH), the country’s pioneer compact car distributor, has extended its promos launched for the month of April to the end of May.
These deals include a deal that will help buyers save up to P90,000 for the Dzire GL + AG and low downpayment of P68,000 for the Suzuki Ertiga.
Also extended until May 31 are the Suzuki Grand Deals: low downp payments of P120,000 for the XL7; P49,000 for the S-Presso, and P8,000 for the Ciaz.
Extended until June 30 is the Shall We Drive Doraemon promo which gives buyers of the Dzire exclusive Doraemon merchandise kits.
Happy Motoring!!!
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