E-tap cards launched at Manila-Cavite Expressway

MANILA, Philippines - Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) operator Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) launched yesterday their new electronic toll fee payment system using “e-tap” cards at the tollway.

The tollway operator will be distributing for free some 3,000 e-tap cards to motorists using the tollway in the next few days to promote the use of the electronic system that brings more convenience and speeds up toll fee payment.

Edmundo Reyes Jr., Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) executive director, hailed CIC for bringing the e-tap card toll fee payment system to the country, which was a cheaper electronic payment system than others now being used in other tollways.

The CIC had coordinated with the TRB on the establishment of the e-tap card system at Cavitex. Reyes said that the cheaper e-tap card system could be adopted in other tollways.

“We are glad to unveil this project in cooperation with CIC. Cavitex is a good starting point in helping us realize the inter-operability of all toll expressways,” Reyes said.

CIC has partnered with leading Malaysian hi-tech tollway payment systems provider RTS to set up the electronic toll fee system at Cavitex.

Andrew Deyto, CIC president and general manager, said the e-tap cards are much cheaper than the current electronic payment systems used in other tollways, where a contactless device cost more than P1,000.

The e-tap card for Cavitex cost P100 each.

An e-tap card-carrying motorist need only tap at designated e-tap booths at the Bacoor and Kawit toll plazas.

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

“All they have to do is tap the card on the card reader and they’re good to go,” Deyto added.

“And the best part is that the load balance can be seen real time at the tapping point so the amount left in the card is tracked easily and reloading can be done by the teller if needed,” he explained.

Motorists only have to load the cards with money to be able to use the cards for Cavitex toll fee payments.