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Delay in full cashless toll collection could hinder efforts to advance transport system

The Central Luzon Link Expressway, a 29.2-kilometer highway connecting Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City. — DPWH

By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter

THE Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) move to postpone the implementation of full cashless toll collection at major expressways would likely hinder the country’s capacity to advance its transport system, an analyst said.

“We can’t do without it as it will impede our ability to compete in the economic realm among our ASEAN neighbors and the rest of the world. Transportation is a basic building block of economic development, and the more timely we address ‘roadblock’ the better equipped we will be in building a better country,” Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior adviser on PPP (public-private partnership) at Libra Konsult, Inc., said in a Viber message.

Last week, newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said he had ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend the implementation of full cashless collection across all tollways which is scheduled for implementation on March 15.

“To keep on postponing what the government already decrees as a good governance scheme does not speak well of its ability to execute well... The government agencies must study well all its execution functions and its ability to do them within a reliable and achievable timeframe,” Mr. Villarete said. 

This is the third time the planned implementation has been postponed. Fines for motorists passing through expressway without RFID or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, were supposed to be enforced starting Oct. 1 last year.

However, the Transportation department deferred the implementation to 2025 to give tollway operators and concerned agencies time to fine-tune their operations.

The planned implementation of cashless toll collection will not be implemented for the foreseeable future, Mr. Dizon said, describing the scheme as “anti-poor.”

He added he plans to work with the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to make it more efficient.

BusinessWorld sought comments from MPTC and SMC on the postponement of the cashless only toll collection system, but it had yet to receive a response by the deadline.   

To recall, the TRB said that cashless or contactless toll collection on major toll expressways will be implemented on March 15.

The TRB said previously that the implementation of a cashless toll collection is needed for the planned electronic toll collection interoperability. The TRB also plans to introduce a unified RFID wallet system that can be used in various tollways.

Motorists passing through expressways without valid RFID or electronic toll collection (ETC) device will be allowed to enter the toll plaza and shall be installed with an ETC device.

Although allowed to pass through, motorists without valid RFID tags will be issued a temporary operator’s permit or a show cause order for violating the policy and a penalty will be imposed.

Just last week, NLEX Corp., a unit of MPTC, said it is investing approximately P1.4 billion to modernize and enhance technology across its expressway network in preparation for full cashless toll transactions.

In a statement in January, SMC Infrastructure, which operates SMC’s toll road network, said the company is prepared to implement a cashless toll payment and that all of its toll roads are equipped to support its implementation.

More than 90% of tollway users already have RFID tags, TRB said.

Meanwhile, Rene S. Santiago, former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, called DoTr’s decision a welcome development.

“As I stated years ago, TRB is favoring toll operators over motorists. There should always be a cash lane; non-regular users would not need RFID,” Mr. Santiago said in a Viber message.

Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, likewise, backed DoTr’s decision to defer the full cashless payment on expressways, noting that cash lane options for motorists should always be in place for “unforeseen circumstances.”

“The no-cash scheme is ideal, but it cannot be imposed until operators can guarantee that all defects in the system are fixed, such as malfunctioning booms, unreadable stickers and broken RFIDs,” she said in a statement on Saturday.

Extensive power sector reforms needed, lawmakers told

NGCP.PH

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

PHILIPPINE lawmakers should craft more extensive power sector reforms as current efforts have fallen short of expectations, analysts said over the weekend.

Attempts by Congress to amend the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) that liberalized the country’s power sector remain lacking, they added, noting the need for more substantial reforms to make electricity cheaper and more reliable.

“While the 19th Congress has taken steps toward improving the energy sector and is working on amendments to EPIRA, these efforts remain incomplete,” Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer of Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Satur noted the current EPIRA amendments overlook key concerns as lawmakers failed to resolve issues about tax charges and system loss charges passed on to consumers.

“Congress must enact stricter accountability laws with higher penalties for non-compliance across power generation, transmission, and distribution,” he added.

He also raised the need for Congress to ensure broader representation of consumer groups for policymakers to gain a deeper understanding of how the inefficient energy sector affects Filipino consumers.

Amendments to the 24-year-old law are among the priority bills set by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the 19th Congress, which is set to end its session in June.

“We would have wanted to see EPIRA reforms within the 19th Congress but the 20th Congress can nonetheless work on this by the latter half of the year,” Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, said in a Facebook chat.

EPIRA was widely believed to have failed in its intent to lower electricity consumer costs, with Philippine electricity rates among the highest in the Southeast Asian region, according to a 2022 Ateneo de Manila University report.

The House of Representatives last year approved a bill rationalizing the government’s power assets management body, which Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez touted as an amendment to EPIRA.

Another measure seeking to strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) functions was approved by the House on second reading in early February. Its counterpart bill remains pending at the Senate energy panel.

Party-list Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc, who sponsored House Bill No. 11373 that seeks to strengthen the ERC, told BusinessWorld that he’s optimistic the measure can still pass the 19th Congress.

Lawmakers should also look at expanding ERC’s manpower, according to Mr. Ridon. “Its current staffing limits its efficiency in resolving cases and concerns in a timely manner.”

They should also consider “anti-oligopoly measures” to police power companies and prevent market manipulation, said Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Africa, executive director at think tank IBON Foundation.

“This will enable the government to more fully address the structural failures of EPIRA and take more decisive steps toward energy sovereignty and public interest-driven electricity provision,” he said in a Viber message.

Moreover, Congress should look at nationalizing the Philippines’ power sector, he added. “Public ownership can be steadily expanded towards eventual full nationalization and restructuring the power sector towards a non-profit, public-interest and national development model.

“The current approach to amending EPIRA is fundamentally constrained by remaining private sector-driven rather than moving toward state-led development and public control of electricity,” said Mr. Africa.

Legislated wage hike pushed as jeepney fare increase looms

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

A LAWMAKER pushed for the immediate passage of a P200 legislated wage hike ahead of the two-peso jeepney fare hike set to take effect as early as April, warning that failure to increase wages alongside rising transport costs will push workers deeper into financial hardship.

In a statement to BusinessWorld, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the looming back-to-back fare hike this April shows Congress cannot delay a P200 minimum wage increase any longer.

“Raising fares without raising wages will crush workers and their families,” TUCP President and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza said.

He added that increased transportation costs will significantly affect minimum wage earners who already struggle to make ends meet.

“If fares go up, wages must go up too. Our workers desperately need higher take-home pay to cover additional transportation costs just to get to work and back home,” he added.

He said that delaying the wage hike until June, when Congress would need to reconcile the House-approved P200 increase with the Senate’s P100 proposal, poses a severe risk to workers.

He also underscored the broader economic benefits of a wage hike, arguing that additional income would not only support workers but also boost local businesses.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is expected to decide by April on a P2 provisional fare hike requested by transport groups Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO).

Once approved, the minimum fares for traditional jeepneys will increase to P15 from P13 and to P17 from P15 for modern jeepneys.

This coincides with the approved P5 fare increase for Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), set to take effect on April 2.

Jeepney operators who modernized their units said they are struggling financially as they are also still paying amortization.

During a hearing at the LTFRB office in Quezon City last week, ALTODAP said their new petition would only be temporary due to the high price of diesel.

The group said they can also lower the fare automatically as they do not want to burden passengers.

Still, LTFRB chief Teofilo E. Guadiz III said the LTFRB board would need to review the petition, especially since jeepney operators already receive fuel subsidies whenever the benchmark Dubai crude price reaches $80 per barrel.

OSG asks SC for 5-day extension

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court (SC) for a five-day extension to comment on a petition questioning the legality of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In a document dated Feb. 19, Solicitor-General Menardo I. Guevarra sought an extension to comment on a petition for certiorari and prohibition, filed by former Presidential Spokesman Victor D. Rodriguez and others regarding the 2025 national budget.

Mr. Guevarra, in the 4-page document, said they received copies of the High Court’s order on Feb. 12, which gives the agency until Feb. 22 to submit its comment.

While the draft comment has been finished, it is still undergoing further revision and correction before it can be filed, the Solicitor-General noted.

“It respectfully begs the kind indulgence of this Honorable Court for an additional period of five days from February 22, 2025, or until February 27, 2025, within which to file the comment,” he added.

“The instant motion is not intended to delay the proceedings but solely due to the foregoing reasons.”

Mr. Guevarra added the OSG is ready to comply with the SC’s order to submit original copies of the GAA.

On Jan. 27, Mr. Rodriguez asked the High Court to declare the GAA illegal for failing to include mandatory funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., illegally increasing appropriations over the President’s recommendations, and giving the most budget to infrastructure over education.

The petition added the 2025 national budget is illegal as the Bicameral Committee Report on the General Appropriations Bill had blank items. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Dictator claims vs Marcos dismissed

SCREENSHOT FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FACEBOOK

THE EXECUTIVE Secretary on Sunday dispelled former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s accusations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. pursuing a dictatorship when his term ends in 2028 as “baseless” and “ridiculous.”

“As our actions have consistently demonstrated, we will stay the course in upholding the Constitution, in adhering to the rule of law, and in respecting the rights of the people,” Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said in a statement.

Former presidential legal counsel Salvador S. Panelo did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

During a political rally at the weekend, the former President accused Mr. Marcos of likely imposing martial law to extend his time in power after his term ends in 2028, citing late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. who imposed martial rule in 1972.

A popular street uprising toppled the late dictator’s regime in February 1986, forcing him and his family to flee into exile in the United States.

“We will not backslide into the oppressive ways of the previous administration, when critics were jailed upon trumped-up charges and when kill orders were publicly issued with glee and obeyed blindly.”

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people died in Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign between July 1, 2016, and May 31, 2022, but human rights groups say the death toll could be as high as 30,000. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

BoC urges voluntary payment

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio urged buyers-in-good-faith of imported goods to settle the right duties via a voluntary payment scheme to meet the P1.06-trillion target this year.

The BoC revenue rose by 6.51% to P931.05 billion last year from P874.17-billion target in 2023.

According to the Department of Finance, the agency logged P79.3 billion in January this year, 8.1% higher than the same month a year ago.

“The voluntary payment scheme is a proactive approach which empowers the bureau to significantly bolster its revenue collection efforts while effectively recognizing the equitable rights of unsuspecting innocent purchaser for value of imported goods,” Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy said in a statement on Sunday.

Customs also has called on buyers of imported luxury motor vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren — subjected to a Letter of Authority and recently served in Pasay to settle their obligations through the payment scheme.

Last week, a series of raids by the agency, seized high-end cars in Metro Manila resulted in the seizure of around P900 million worth of expensive vehicles in a Taguig warehouse. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Comelec taps Robinsons for polls

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated Robinsons Malls as official polling centers for the 2025 midterm elections in May, in a bid to enhance voter accessibility and convenience.

Through this partnership signed on Feb. 21, select Robinsons Malls will host polling stations in 13 locations nationwide, covering 152 precincts, the mall chain said in a statement on Sunday.

“Through this strategic partnership, [the] casting of ballots will be more accessible and convenient for eligible voters from these locations,” it added.

Up for grabs in the May 12 elections are 317 congressional seats and thousands of local posts. The biggest battle will be for 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a chamber packed with political heavyweights and wielding outsized influence. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PWD group launched in Cotabato

FREEPIK

COTABATO CITY — Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Cotabato province now have a bloc to represent them in multi-sector dialogues pertaining to issues and concerns within their community.

The pioneering Cotabato Persons With Disability Provincial Federation (CPWDPF) has representatives from all 17 towns in the province and in its capital, Kidapawan City.

Radio reports in Central Mindanao cities on Sunday stated that CPWDPF officials met just last Friday in Kabacan municipality and discussed how they can support the humanitarian programs of Cotabato Gov. Emmylou T. Mendoza for PWDs in the province.

Ms. Mendoza, chairperson of the multi-sector Regional Development Council 12, Arleen A. Timson, chief of the Cotabato Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and Kabacan Mayor Evangeline P. Guzman together organized the first-ever conference of the CPWDPF.

Officials of the CPWDPF, the first-ever in Region 12, planned out community programs that would benefit PWDs in far-flung areas in the province during their first ever meeting last Friday in Kabacan in the 3rd district of the province.

“Our PWD community in the province now has a strong voice via this federation,” Ms. Guzman said. — John Felix M. Unson

Tall Blacks blast travel-weary Gilas Pilipinas, top qualifiers

JUSTIN BROWNLEE (32) — FIBA

NEW ZEALAND (NZ) showed Gilas Pilipinas who’s boss in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ).

Hell-bent on avenging their previous defeat on Philippine soil in the November window, the Tall Blacks swarmed all over the Nationals in their return match and dispute for Group B’s top seeding on Sunday in Auckland, 87-70.

Not even the presence of a big-sized, roaring Pinoy crowd at the Spark Arena could give the travel-weary visitors the extra push as the world No. 22 hosts charged at them like a freight train in all of 40 minutes.

A thunderous 22-8 barrage in the last 7:31 of the first period spiked by four booming triples was all it took for the Kiwis to set the tone for the strong strike-back to Gilas’ 93-89 upset in Manila nearly three months before.

The Tall Blacks claimed the No. 1 position in the bracket with 5-1 while relegating the Filipinos, who also stumbled in their preceding road game against Chinese-Taipei last Thursday, 89-93, to No. 2 at 4-2. Both have secured their tickets to the Asia Cup proper set for August in Saudi Arabia.

“They came out and gave us a smash-mouth in the first quarter and we really never recovered,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone.

The hosts hit six three-points in the first 10 minutes as they seized control, 30-15, and went on to lead by 28. The Nationals got to within 11 halfway through the fourth but the Tall Blacks quickly extinguished the threat.

It was a whimper of an ending for Gilas, which lost steam after going 4-0 in the first two windows last year. Prior to the away gigs in the ACQ’s February window, Mr. Cone’s crew got blown out by Lebanon and Egypt in last week’s Doha Invitational Cup. A come-from-behind verdict over host Qatar to open that four-nation meet turned out to be their lone success in this whirlwind trip.

“We did the Doha trip before we came here to try to get more time together and play more games and it probably hurt us more than it helped us in terms of being ready for Taiwan and New Zealand,” noted Mr. Cone.

“But we were trying to look at a bigger picture because we know we’re not going to have much time to come together and prepare for the FIBA Asia Cup. It’s cumulative experiences so we’re trying to take each window as an experience and move it on to the next one and onto the next one and hopefully grow and improve.”

He said the absence of 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto from an ACL injury presented a major issue.

“We lost a key player so we’re still trying to adjust how to play without him and that’s the things we’re going to be talking about and thinking about as we go into FIBA Asia.”

NZ hit 13 booming triples against Gilas’ six and held Justin Brownlee to 10 on a five-of-eight shooting after his 39-point eruption against the Taiwanese.

Tohi Smith-Milner anchored the Kiwis’ long-range bombing with five three-balls as he took scoring honors with 25 to go with nine rebounds. Corey Webster (14), Reuben Te Rangi (12) and Jordan Ngatai (11), who made two three-pointers apiece, backed him up.

Chris Newsome (13), June Mar Fajardo (11) and AJ Edu (15 rebounds and seven points) stepped up with Brownlee shackled. — Olmin Leyba

The scores:

New Zealand 87 – Smith-Milner 25, Webster 14, Te Rangi 12, Ngatai 11, Britt 8, Wynyard 7, Le’afa 5, Darling 3, K. Isaac 2, Brown 0, T. Isaac 0, Ball 0.

Philippines 70 – Newsome 13, Fajardo 11, Brownlee 10, Oftana 8, Ramos 8, Edu 7, Aguilar 6, Tamayo 4, Perez 3, Quiambao 0, Thompson 0, Malonzo 0.

Quarterscores: 30-15; 53-33; 74-55; 87-70.

Trupa, Mangrobang and Yee earn World Games berths in Asia Triathlon Duathlon Championship in Bahrain

THREE FILIPINO ATHLETES — Joy Trupa (silver, in photo left most), Kim Mangrobang (bronze, in photo) and Franklin Yee — have qualified for the 2025 World Games Duathlon in Chengdu this August. — FACEBOOK.COM/TRIPHIL

THE Philippines’ Merry Joy Trupa, Kim Mangrobang and Franklin Yee came through with strong performances in the 2025 Asia Triathlon Duathlon Championships in Manama, Bahrain over the weekend to earn World Games berths this August in Chengdu, China.

Ms. Trupa, the country’s top duathlete and ranked 83rd in the world, finished second in one hour, 29 minutes and 16 seconds in the five-kilometer (km) run, 30 km bike and 5 km run race.

The sterling effort replicated Ms. Trupa’s feat in this same edition two years ago.

Ms. Mangrobang was third behind Ms. Trupa in 1:33:14 in the event topped by Chinese Lu Ziqing, who timed in 1:30:12.

For the 22-year-old Mr. Yee, the 2024 Clark Duathlon champion, debuted internationally with a bang after winding up at fifth in 1:17:5 in the men’s section that was ruled by Bahraini Karich Moussa, who clocked 1:16:00.

Their efforts booked them tickets to the same World Games, which is slated from Aug. 7 to 17, where billiards’ Carlo Biado and karateka Junna Tsukii each struck gold in its past editions.

“The Philippine Sports Commission’s support to the national duathlon squad paid off handsomely,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines President Tom Carrasco.

Other Filipino finishers in Manama were Bea Quiambao (fifth) and Jena Valdez (seventh) in the women’s and Maynard Pecson (ninth), John Ciron (11th), Raymond Torio (14th) and John Chicano (19th) in the men’s with Melvin Fausto as coach.

The same squad is expected to undergo more training abroad in preparation for the Chengdu and the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand late this year. — Joey Villar

Starhorse acquires Terrafirma PBA franchise

PENDING APPROVAL by the PBA, a new ballclub — Starhorse Shipping Line — is in line to make its debut in the 50th season in place of Terrafirma.

The Dyip, as confirmed by governor Bobby Rosales, has struck a deal with Starhorse for the sale of his PBA franchise.

“We’ll have to go through the process of the PBA,” Mr. Rosales told The STAR on Sunday.

Terrafirma and Starhorse agreed to the sale lock, stock and barrel, similar to the one consummated by Converge when it bought the Alaska franchise in 2022 for an estimated P100 million.

The Terrafirma-Starhorse transaction will need the approval of at least two-thirds of the PBA board.

If approved, the plan is for the Dyip to play their swan song in the coming Philippine Cup in April. Then once Terrafirma made its final bow after a 10-season run, Starhorse will fly the banner in Season 50.

Starhorse, a domestic shipping company that operates in the Calabarzon, Bicol, Visayas, and Mimaropa regions, is a new player in the Philippine basketball scene.

Recently, the company came in as backer of the Basilan team which is making its comeback in the MPBL after a two-year leave of absence. — Olmin Leyba

Luka Dončić, LeBron James combine for 57 points as Lakers halt Nuggets’ win run

LUKA DONČIĆ had 32 points and 10 rebounds, LeBron James scored 25 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers beat the Nuggets 123-100 on Saturday night to end Denver’s nine-game winning streak.

Dončić logged 31 minutes, his most in four games with Los Angeles, which won for just the second time in its last 15 games against Denver, including the playoffs.

Austin Reaves scored 23 points and Rui Hachimura contributed 21 points for the Lakers. Los Angeles has won 14 of 18.

Nikola Jokic had 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 26th triple-doubles, but also committed six of the Nuggets’ 20 turnovers. Aaron Gordon scored 24 points, Jamal Murray added 19, Russell Westbrook finished with 17, Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 and Christian Braun contributed 10 points.

The Lakers led 63-54 at halftime behind 19 points from Dončić. They also capitalized on 12 Denver turnovers that led to 23 points.

The Nuggets opened the third quarter with eight straight points to pull within one, but Los Angeles responded with a 10-0 run to lead by 11. Westbrook’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 80-74, but Hachimura and Reaves hit two each from long range to extend the lead to 94-82 late in the third.

Westbrook made two driving layups to cut Los Angeles’ lead to 96-87 heading into the fourth.

James opened the final period with a layup, Gordon answered with a short hook, then the Lakers started to pull away.

James hit a jumper, the Nuggets committed their 18th turnover, Gabe Vincent hit from deep and Jordan Goodwin hit a jumper in the lane and a corner 3-pointer to extend the Los Angeles lead to 108-91 with 7:31 left.

Denver missed out on a timeout and James made two free throws to make it a 19-point game. Braun then drained one from deep, but Jokic turned it over in consecutive possessions and Dončić turned them into buckets to give the Lakers a 117-97 lead with 4:16 left.

The Nuggets emptied their bench and Los Angeles closed it out. — Reuters

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