SMC begins toll refund for affected AutoSweep, cash lane users

Last week, SMC Infrastructure announced that it will be refunding the toll fees of motorists who were affected by a massive traffic jam in SLEX, NAIAX, and Skyway due to a network outage of its AutoSweep RFID system.

Supposedly, a cut in their fiber optic line caused the disruption which resulted in one heck of a traffic jam that affected thousands of motorists. As compensation to those that were disrupted during their journeys, SMC Infrastructure said that it will waive toll fees for around 84,000 motorists.

Fast forward to the present day, and the company has officially begun issuing refunds to affected motorists as of yesterday, November 23, 2022. SMC Infrastructure said that the refunds will cover all vehicles that passed through affected tollways, including SLEX, NAIAX, and Skyway from Alabang to Buendia last November 17, 2022, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

To effect the refund, SMC Infrastructure said it will electronically credit the AutoSweep accounts of vehicles with RFID tags. Meanwhile, motorists that paid with cash will be given a one-time free pass which they can use at any exit of SLEX, STAR Tollway, NAIAX, or Skyway Stages 1 and 2.

Motorists can avail of the free pass at any cash/mixed lane exits along the toll roads by surrendering their valid official receipt issued last November 17, 2022, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tellers will then validate the receipts which will serve as proof that the motorist is entitled to the one-time pass.

The refund period will last until December 22, 2022, Thursday.

As to what ultimately caused the system disruption, SMC Infrastructure has determined that it was the result of a major accident on a severely damaged pedestrian footbridge along Dr. A Santos Avenue in Sucat Paranaque.