FILE PHOTO: The government suspends the implementation of the revised toll expressway guidelines to October 1, 2024. Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the revised toll expressway guidelines will no longer be enforced starting August 31 as its implementation was moved to October 1 to allow more time for adjustments and public awareness campaigns regarding the new toll expressway regulations. This photo shows the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) toll gates. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The implementation of the revised toll expressway guidelines, including penalties for motorists without valid radio frequency identification (RFID), has been suspended.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the revised toll expressway guidelines will no longer be enforced starting August 31 as its implementation was moved to October 1.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista explained that the postponement was needed for adjustments and public awareness campaigns regarding the new toll expressway guidelines.
READ: Fines await those without RFID, with insufficient load by August 31
“We hope the concerned agencies and tollway operators would use the 30-day deferment to fine-tune expressway operations and further intensify the public information campaign to enable tollway users to comply with the new guidelines,” Bautista said in a statement Tuesday.
The revised regulations are outlined in Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-01, which was signed by Bautista, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo on August 1.
The JMC updated the tasks of the LTO, TRB, DOTr, tollway concessionaires, and users, and introduced penalties for the lack of electronic toll collection devices or insufficient load balance of RFID devices.
It likewise enhanced the LTO’s authority to deputize tollway enforcers from the two tollway operators, among others.
Bautista urged tollway users to support the new toll expressway guidelines that would cover freeways under the TRB’s jurisdiction. — Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, trainee