In case you missed it, the implementation of Joint Memorandum Circular 2024-001 (JMC 2024-001), which covers the new RFID-related guidelines for vehicles traveling on expressways, has been moved—again—to 2025. This is to give toll operators and motorists more time to prepare for the new measure.
Officials from local transport agencies recently held a press conference to discuss the postponement of JMC 2024-001, and one RFID user pain point that came up is the minimum maintaining balance for Easytrip and Autosweep wallets. At present, tollway users are required to have both RFID accounts because some expressways use Easytrip while others use Autosweep.
The Autosweep website states: “We strongly advise you to ensure that you always have at least P100 prepaid toll when entering [electronic toll collection] toll gates.” While we have not found official information on the minimum maintaining balance for Easytrip, the listed methods for reloading the RFID wallets electronically (for example, via e-wallets and online banking) typically require a minimum reloading amount.
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TRB on the removal of RFID maintaining balance, minimum load amount
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said it is working on removing any required minimum maintaining balance for RFID wallets, adding that tollway users should be able to reload just the exact amount they need to pay their toll fees.
“Nagpapasa na rin kami ng kautusan na [exact toll] lang po,” said Atty. Alvin Carullo, TRB executive director. “Kung ikaw ay papasok po sa tollway... kung halimbawa nakalagay doon P13 [toll fee for the journey]... pwede po ninyong i-load lang iyang P13, makakatawid po kayo ng tollway. So, ang tawag po namin diyan, exact load lang ang ire-require.
“Wala po tayong maintaining balance,” he stressed.
“Iyon pong dating kagawian na nire-require kayo ng P500, P1,000, or P10,000 doon sa mga fleet card, hindi na po natin ipapatupad iyan. Eksakto lang po, as minimum po.”
The official also said that tollway operators must now ensure that RFID reloading is reflected in real-time in their account management systems. For instance, if you top up your RFID wallet by P100 via online banking, the reloaded amount should be reflected immediately when you check your Easytrip or Autosweep balance.
Penalties for tollway operators
“Mayroon po tayong isa pa ring guidelines, ang tinatawag po niyan minimum performance specification standards,” Carullo said. “Nakalagay po doon iyong mga key performance indicators na dapat makamit ng ating mga toll operators. Ngayon, kung hindi po siya makakasunod dito, may kaukulang din pong parusa or penalty, monetary penalty na ipapataw po sa ating mga toll operators.
“Sa kuwentada po namin, ang pinakamababang magiging penalty po nila ay hindi po bababa sa isang violation, mga P100,000.”
According to Carullo, the new implementation date for JMC 2024-001 is tentatively set for January, although this might still change: “Pag-aaralan po namin kung sa dumating ang January natin, talagang hindi pa rin nakakamit nila iyong tinatawag natin na efficiency ng ating toll operation system, maaari po na i-defer pa natin further.”
