Cavitex prepaid system eyed for trains, gas stations

MANILA, Philippines - The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) sees the success of the prepaid card toll payment system that could also be adopted not only in expressways but also trains, other modes of transportation and even gasoline.

TRB executive director Edmund Reyes Jr. said the system used by the Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) is the first step towards the realization of an interoperable payment system.

CIC launched last July 20 the e-tap card that serves as the country’s first prepaid card toll payment system.

Reyes said the project gave CIC the distinction of introducing a very affordable, efficient, and convenient method of toll payment despite being the smallest in the Philippines.

“This very first prepaid card toll payment system maybe the first step towards the realization of an interoperable payment system not only for the expressways but may also be used in trains, and other modes of transport including consumer products like gasoline and others similar to the use in other countries like Malaysia and Hong Kong,” he said.

The e-tap card would facilitate the payment of toll fees resulting in greater motorists’ convenience as they no longer have to scrounge for small bills or coins and at the same time reduces long lines in the toll plaza.

The card is transferable and is acceptable even using different vehicles and is priced reasonably at P100 and could be secured at the toll plazas at Cavitex.

The balance is shown real time and is easily reloadable at the toll plaza in denominations of P100.

The TRB earlier urged operators of toll roads to follow the CIC in adapting the use of electronic-wallets for their cashless toll collection systems.

The e-tap technology that Cavitex implemented last week is faster than cash payment like the existing EC tag and E-Pass technology, but the e-tap card that motorists will buy to avail of the technology is more affordable than the transponder gadgets used for the existing technology.

CIC and its technology supplier Malaysian-based RTS Technology Sdn Bhd presented the e-tap card.

The motorist will only tap the e-tap card in readers installed at dedicated lanes at toll plazas. A beep sound will confirm that the toll value was deducted to the e-tap stored value card.

CIC president Andrew Deyto ealier said motorists normally spend at least eight seconds in paying for cash. But transaction with e-tap card will only entail two to three seconds.

 “This facility is expected to enhance the speed of paying at the toll ways and is also very convenient because motorists are no longer needed to prepare for small change or wait in queue at the cash lane to complete the transaction,” he said.