EMONG'S JOURNALS

As MPT Mobility helps prepare the nation for technology-driven journeys, motorists are encouraged to get their RFID stickers installed in their vehicles before September 1, 2023, in preparation for the dry run of 100% RFID lanes in select toll plazas. “We’re laying down the foundations for the smart urban future that we’re envisioning for Filipinos,” says Jack L. Coson, President and General Manager of Easytrip. “Ultimately, we [MPT Mobility] are aiming for an elevated customer experience and hassle-free driving for Filipinos. With this new implementation, motorists will relish cashless transactions—reflecting MPT Mobility’s commitment to enhancing convenience and efficiency for all motorists.” For New Users (Motorists without RFID/Autosweep users without Easytrip) If you’ve yet to embrace the wonders of RFID technology, there has never been a better time to try than now. Bid farewell to the trouble of han...

NLEX Corporation continues to upgrade its toll collection system as it is set to start the installation of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) and RFID early detection features in more NLEX-SCTEX toll lanes by December 2021 and first quarter of next year, respectively.   These upgrades, which aimed at further improving customer experience, will bring the total number of lanes with ALPR to 95 and with early detection feature to 217. The data from the ALPR will also be used in the future as part of the contactless apprehension policy which NLEX and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are currently working on.   This ALPR system uses smart cameras that read vehicle license plates for easier matching of motorists’ RFID transactions. Toll lanes in Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Tabang, Sta. Rita, San Fernando, and Angeles will be furnished with the new system starting next month. The company has initially implemented the ALPR system in NLE...

Motorists passing through RFID-only designated lanes without valid RFIDs in CAVITEX would be apprehended and fined starting May 17, 2021. In a Facebook post yesterday, the Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) said they will start apprehending motorists entering RFID lanes without valid RFIDs based on Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) and DOTr Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01. Disobedient drivers can be issued a ticket for “disregarding traffic signs,” a violation under JAO No. 2014-01 with a PHP1,000 fine, since there’s a sign saying ‘RFID-only’ lane but the vehicle still tried to enter. An obstruction violation, with a corresponding PHP1,000 fine, can also be issued to a driver who attempts to enter an RFID lane since they will get stuck behind a toll barrier and obstruct the flow of traffic. In total, it seems likely that the motorist may be slapped with a hefty fine of up to PHP 2,000. Motorists who do not have Easytrip RFIDs yet are advised...

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart)  has partnered with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) to introduce a much simpler and easier way of reloading the Easytrip RFID using the country's first toll top-up via mobile load service. The new service enables Smart and TNT customers to conveniently reload their Easytrip RFID accounts anytime and anywhere just by sending a text message. To reload, subscribers simply have to key in  EASY[DENOM]<SPACE>[12-DIGIT RFID ACCOUNT NUMBER] and send to 3279 Customers may load in denominations of P100, P300, P500, or P1000, and the amount shall be deducted from their prepaid airtime balance if they are a Smart Prepaid or TNT subscriber, or shall be charged to their monthly bill if they are a Smart Postpaid customer. Subscribers shall receive a text message for every successful transaction, and will have their Easytrip RFID accounts credited quickly after. Subscribers may use t...

We will still see cash lanes inside major Luzon expressways as the transition period for the 100% cashless transaction scheme in tollways will remain in effect "until further notice", according to an announcement from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). "Cash lanes will still be available. Motorists without RFID will not be apprehended. RFID subscription and installation [are] available in many locations designated by the toll operators," says TRB Spokesperson Julius Corpuz. Back in December, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) deferred the enforcement of the RFID deadline to address the complaints of motorists due to the faulty RFID system, and the inability of the toll operators to cope with the huge number of vehicles that are supposed to have the RFID installed. The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) operates EasyTrip RFIDs used in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), ...

Motorists without radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers will still be able to enter and have RFID stickers installed at toll expressways beyond December 1, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday. In a message to reporters, DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said a “stickering lane” will still be available to motorists at the tollgates. Libiran said only motorists who will enter RFID lanes without an RFID sticker will be penalized. “Beyond December 1, may RFID stickering lane pa rin na padadaanan sa mga motorista na wala pang sticker. Doon sila dapat na dumaan. Meron ding installation site bago mag-toll road na pwede nyang pag-installan (Beyond December 1, there will still be RFID stickering lanes that motorists without stickers can enter. They’re supposed to pass through there. There will also be installation sites before toll roads that they can visit to have an RFID sticker installed),”...

To manage the volume of motorists wanting to secure RFID tags for their vehicles, the Easytrip management has introduced its online booking and reservation system for RFID installations. Tagged as 'Scan, Reserve, Install', the  Online RFID Reservation and Appointment System (ORRAS) provide users with an alternative way to book their Easytrip RFID sticker installation. Customers can register in advance and book an appointment date at available installation sites. They may access the online system by scanning a QR code found on social media pages and websites of NLEX, CAVITEX, CALAX, and Easytrip starting November 8. Here are the steps on how to book an Easytrip RFID appointment and reservation: 1.  Scan the Easytrip QR code through your smartphone or CLICK HERE to open the link on your web or mobile browser. 2.  Accomplish the registration form. 3. When registration is successful, choose your preferred date, time, and loc...

And there it is above, folks: the EasyTrip RFIDs that originally sell for only Php200 each are now being sold online for as much as Php900!  The November 2 implementation of the 100% cashless toll collection system on all Luzon expressways (NLEX, SLEX, TPLEX, etc.) has become a high profile event, causing a shortage of EasyTrip RFID stickers at designated service stations. But the scarcity may have been artificially created by online entrepreneurs. Whenever a high profile event sells out, you can be sure that retail arbitrageurs are at work, endeavoring to make profits at the expense of those who missed out. Much like ticket scalping – when tickets for popular events sell out fast, people take advantage of the shortage by selling tickets for a mark-up in the secondary market. This is what is happening now on the RFID online market places. You see, in a situation where an online entrepreneur is certain that the demand for products will b...

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be introducing the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) stickers to replace the old motor vehicle validation stickers and plate number year tags. The move to change to the new RFID stickers will be carried out immediately as soon as the existing stocks of the year tag stickers are consumed. The LTO said that this is in preparation for the full implementation of the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVIC) and Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) stickers, which are expected to roll out in the coming weeks. The PMVIC will be in charge of the motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS) and shall be a requirement prior to a vehicle's registration/renewal. The MVIS will contain the details of the owner and their vehicle, its roadworthiness, its emission test, and its state of maintenance and operability. Results of the MVIS will then be automatically sent to the LTO...

RFID is the abbreviation for Radio Frequency Identification. As you might have heard, major Luzon expressways – like the NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX, CALAX, among others – will start implementing a no-cash policy for toll fees by November. Because of this, motorists have since been flocking to installation tents (AutoSweep and EasyTrip) at the expressways to get the RFID stickers installed, and some have even ordered online so they can DIY-install the kits themselves.  Though RFID systems are extremely reliable and can achieve a 99.9% system reliability on their RFID network, some motorists have reported that their RFIDs are performing poorly, and worse, their identification tags are not read.  And these issues seem to concentrate on the EasyTrip RFID and some vehicle models their tags are attached to.  What are the vehicle models? So far, the EasyTrip folks have identified a total of 9 vehicles with specific year models that have problems with headlamp installation. Note th...

Beginning December 1, 2020, the country's major expressways (which includes NLEX, TPLEX, SLEX, NAIAX, STAR, etc. ) will be utilizing the RFID sticker technology to implement cashless transactions in their toll booths in compliance with a directive from the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) Order No. 2020 – 012 on the use of a cashless system along expressways. ––––––––––––––––––––––– WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE 1. What is RFID? 2. EasyTrip and AutoSweep RFIDs 3. Where to subscribe an AutoSweep account 4. How to Register your Autosweep RFID to Easytrip System? 5. Where to subscribe an Easytrip account? 6. Where to subscribe an AutoSweep account? 7. EASYTRIP – Where to reload? 8. AUTOSWEEP – Where to reload? ––––––––––––––––––––––– An RFID sticker is free-of-charge, but you have to cash out between PHP200 to PHP500 for the initial load. If you frequently travel along these expressways, I recommend you get your RFID sticker for a seamless, wo...