RFID installation causes traffic jam

Hundreds of vehicles converged in several areas in Metro Manila for the free installation of RFID (radio-frequency identification) resulting in traffic jams starting early Monday morning, according to a report by Ivan Mayrina on “24 Oras.”

The RFID comes in the form of a sticker that has barcode that can be read by a detector whenever the vehicle passes along tollways.  Starting November 2, toll plazas will implement a cashless system as part of efforts to minimize COVID-19 transmission.

As a designated RFID installation area, vehicles trooped to the Quezon Memorial Circle causing gridlock in the elliptical road and Commonwealth Avenue.

“‘Wag ka mag-advertise kung hindi mo maserbisyuhan,” one vehicle owner stuck in the parade of cars said.

Another car owner said he tried to get an RFID in one of the designated installation sites along the expressway, but wasted five hours in the queue.

“By the Department Order, November 2 full cashless na sya pero yung pagkakabit ng RFID tuloy-tuloy naman ‘yun,” Toll Regulatory Board executive director Abraham Sales said.

Congestion was also observed in RFID-designated areas along expressways.

“We have our RFID lane assistance, so they are going to be there assisting, so syempre we have to make sure they have to be able to pass with ease,” Arlette Capistrano, assistant vice president for communications of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), said.

Skyway O&M Corporation president Manuel Bonoan said motorists should not panic because the installation of RFID remains free and vehicles can avail of it until December.

“Kung hindi naman kayo babyahe, maghintay na lang kayo next week or next month or December, pareho lang naman, in other words, kung wala naman kayong planong magbyahe sa Undas, relax lang,” Romulo Quimbo, chief communications officer of MPTC said.

The P500 initial load in the RFID has no expiration.

At least 3.1 million vehicles have availed of the RFID to date.

The DOTr issued Department Order No. 2020-012 on August 13, which ordered the Toll Regulatory Board to ensure that all toll concessionaires and operators will shift to 100% electronic collection not later than November 2 “to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 and subsequently as a means to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic.”

The new payment system will cover North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx) under the MPTC.

RFID will also ne implemented in San Miguel Corp.(SMC)-operated tollways — the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)—LDF, GMA News