I stumbled on this article when I was checking the news this morning. I reacted to it below in my Facebook, which I’m reposting here:
DOTr's new chief halts fully cashless toll collection plan, calling it 'anti-poor'
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"Having a cashless system is not pro-poor. It is anti-poor," he said.
He reasoned that individuals from lower-income brackets might struggle to load their RFIDs with larger amounts. There could also be scenarios where motorists forget to load their RFIDs.
??? What's the anti-poor part in this? You're going to pay for entry, cashless or not.
If this is the argument, then I think the solution is to allow proper linking of these toll-plaza systems to digital wallets so you don't excessively load large amounts of money, and to educate the masses about cashless systems.
And if people are struggling, then perhaps it's time for an introspective for all to make the user experience better.
There will always be a learning curve. I think enforcing cashless is the right way to do things, even if it's harsh at first.
I think a fairer argument to use would be that these systems are not inclusive to those who do not use the cashless system and all other interconnected systems that go with it, like digital wallets, smartphones, apps and the tech literacy needed to navigate across all of them. And I think that’s the original spirit of the statement.
However, I think any system in the world tends to draw such lines, even if you disagree with such systems and their requirements. Much of Philippine society, for example, expects you to have access to Facebook and at least a smartphone.
On one hand, I actually do agree with the complaint — there should be more accessibility and ease of use for folks who are unable to load X amount of cash on their Easytrip or Autosweep accounts. Therefore, it's anti-poor since people have to eagerly load money onto them just to avoid being the cause of delays and embarrassment at a toll plaza.
But as providers and public utilities, I also think you have to draw the line. Just like how you're supposed to pay before going to any venue or paid event, you have to do the same thing here, and you're expected to know these things. You're driving a car; you should be aware of such systems and how to deal with them.