The battery-powered Easytrip tags in use since 2005 at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will be phased out by September 30, 2020 as NLEX Corporation transitions its cashless payment system to the radio frequency identification or RFID platform.
NLEX Corporation will install for free small, paper-thin and easy to attach RFID stickers that will be mounted on a vehicle’s windshield or headlight. The RFID sticker with a microchip will replace the Easytrip tag which will no longer be usable after the phase out. However, current Easytrip tag users are assured that any remaining account balance will be carried over to the new RFID system.
Once installed, NLEX and SCTEX RFID users will now be able to traverse other Metro Pacific Tollways owned expressways like the Cavitex and CALAX and vice- versa.
In the recent Pre-SONA Forum of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Clusters, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade emphasized that under the “new normal,” transportation policies will focus on digitalization. “Part of our digitalization ay iyong paggamit ng RFID sa mga tollway… Isang sistema na lang at puro RFID na lang para cashless nang sa ganon ay matugunan din ho ‘yong pangangailangan ng DOH at IATF,” he said.
Last May 14, 2020, the DOTr thru the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) issued Memorandum Circular 2020-020 mandating that all public utility vehicles plying the expressways install RFID to promote social distancing and reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 by adopting cashless transactions. The uniform use of RFID stickers eliminates the need for cash to change hands when paying.
DOTr Sec. Tugade is also the main mover of the ongoing RFID interoperability program that aims to integrate the contactless toll collection systems of all expressways.
“NLEX is moving towards delivering high quality infrastructure, both physical and digital. We are fully supporting DOTr Sec. Tugade’s campaign to ensure compatibility with all other expressways while continuing to promote the health and safety of our motorists amidst this health crisis,” NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said.
NLEX Corporation and Easytrip Services Corporation are exerting efforts to ensure easy and hassle-free migration of current Easytrip tag users to RFID via 24/7 sticker installation sites. The RFID stickers are also available online via Shopee and customers may opt to install the stickers themselves thru the Stick-It-Yourself RFID.
24/7 RFID sticker installation sites are already open at the NLEX Bocaue toll plaza (SB) Expansion Lane X01 and Balintawak toll plaza (NB) Customer Service Center Parking Area.
Onsite RFID sticker installation is also available Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Balintawak toll plaza Lane N08, Mindanao Ave. (NB) entry, Karuhatan (WB) entry, Balagtas Easytrip Tent, Angeles Easytrip Tent, as well as in the rest and refuelling areas: NLEX Drive and Dine Valenzuela, Petron Marilao, Petron Bocaue, Shell Burol, and Petron Lakeshore.
Easytrip transponder customers may also have their free RFID stickers installed at Tabang and San Fernando Customer Service Centers from Monday to Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., as well as Clark South and Tarlac installation sites from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., respectively.
Meanwhile, RFID sticker installation sites at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan operate from Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In addition, customers can also get Stick-It-Yourself RFID stickers in select NLEX-SCTEX toll booths in Mindanao, Valenzuela southbound, Meycauayan southbound, Marilao southbound, Bocaue Barrier, Bocaue Interchange southbound, Balagtas, Tabang, San Fernando northbound, Sta. Ines, Concepcion, Dinalupihan, and Tarlac as well as in NLEX Customer Service Centers in Balintawak, and Valenzuela, from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tabang and San Fernando from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Easytrip transponder users have to authorize the transfer of their account balance to the RFID account by filling out the load balance transfer form at the installation sites or by downloading the form fromwww.easytrip.ph and sending it to balancetransfer@easytrip.ph.
For RFID reloading, motorists may choose to reload via the Easytrip mobile application and online reloading partners such as PayMaya, Eon, GCash, Bancnet, Mastercard, Visa, UCPB, BPI, Metrobank, BDO, Coins.ph, and Smart Money.
