No RFID? Brace yourself for hefty expressway fines starting March 15

Metro Manila’s traffic is legendary—not in a good way. We’ve been ranked among the worst cities for congestion, and despite various efforts, gridlock remains a daily reality. The problem isn’t just within the city; it extends to our expressways, where long lines at toll booths often add unnecessary delays. One of the biggest culprits? Cash transactions at toll gates, which slow down the flow of vehicles and create bottlenecks.

This is exactly why the full transition to cashless toll collection, set for March 15, is long overdue. The government, through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), has finally mandated that all expressway users must have an electronic toll collection (ETC) device or an RFID sticker to pass through. If you still don’t have one, you’re not just behind the times—you’re part of the problem.

The RFID system isn’t new. It has been gradually implemented for years, with operators like Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation and SMC Tollways pushing for wider adoption. Today, 97% of expressway users already have an RFID tag. The remaining 3%? They’ll still be allowed through toll plazas, but they will be required to get an RFID installed on the spot. Refusing to comply? That’s where the penalties kick in—P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second, and a hefty P5,000 for repeat violations.

Frankly, there are no excuses anymore. Getting an RFID sticker is practically free; you only pay for the load. Reloading is also effortless, with options ranging from banks and e-wallets to kiosks and customer service centers. There’s no reason to still be fumbling with cash at the toll gate.

While the RFID system is meant to improve traffic flow, it isn’t without its issues. Malfunctioning scanners, unreadable tags, and barriers that refuse to lift remain common complaints. There have been countless instances where a properly loaded RFID tag fails to register, causing delays and confusion. However, this isn’t an excuse to avoid getting one. If anything, it’s even more reason to ensure your RFID is properly installed and working. Should a problem arise, at least you won’t be the one holding up the line.

The shift to cashless toll collection is just one step toward addressing our nation’s crippling traffic issues. But at its core, the problem is bigger than just toll booths—it’s about how we prioritize private vehicles over efficient public transport. Metro Manila’s road network is overloaded with cars because, for many, there’s no viable alternative. A reliable mass transit system could take a significant number of vehicles off the road, but until that happens, we have to work with what we have. And right now, what we have is RFID.

March 15 marks the deadline. If you regularly use toll expressways, having an RFID sticker isn’t optional anymore—it’s mandatory. The system may not be perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. The last thing we need is more unnecessary delays caused by cash transactions. If you haven’t gotten an RFID yet, do yourself and everyone else a favor—get one now. Otherwise, be prepared to pay the price, literally and figuratively.