NLEX Corp. on Monday said it is working to expand and upgrade its contactless systems to further improve customer service after serving 119 million motorists in 2021, up 27.96% from 93 million in 2020.
The enhancements planned for 2022 “include the installation of RFID early detection feature, installation and software upgrade of RFID card readers or contactless terminals, upgrade of system servers, and replacement of toll lane equipment — all aimed at improving the service to customers,” the company said in an e-mailed statement.
“About 29 more toll lanes will be equipped with enhanced scanners for faster RFID detection and additional 50 toll lanes will have new contactless terminals where customers can tap their Easytrip card to process their RFID transactions,” it added.
When completed, a total of 217 toll lanes will be equipped with RFID early detection features and 258 toll lanes with contactless terminals.
“We are innovating and adapting accordingly to improve our operations so we can provide customers with a quick and seamless experience both in our expressways and digital channels,” NLEX Corp. President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said.
The company said that traffic control gates as well as lane status and toll fare indicators on 187 toll lanes will also be replaced to improve efficiency.
It intends to launch this year an interactive chatbot system on its website and Facebook Messenger to “help customers get instant answers to their basic inquiries.”
As for its expansion plans, the company previously said that it targets to start this year the construction of a two-kilometer expressway section between the existing Mindanao Avenue toll plaza and Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Upgrade work on the northbound portion of the Candaba Viaduct, a five-kilometer bridge between Pulilan, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga, will be started next month.
NLEX Corp. is part of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin
