LGUs affected by RFID mess on NLEX urged to follow Valenzuela City's example

Local government units affected by the allegedly flawed implementation of the cashless radio frequency identification (RFID) system in toll plazas should follow Valenzuela City's move suspending the business permit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp., the head of a commuters safety group said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Atty. Ariel Inton, president of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, said they support Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian's move to suspend NLEX's business permit due to the RFID mess that resulted in kilometers-long traffic jams in toll plazas.

“Sinusuportahan po natin ‘yang [aksyon ng Valenzuela],” Inton said.

“I hope iyong ibang local government officials, sundan ang ginawa ni Mayor Rex. Wala naman pong pinagtatalunan na okay ang RFID, pero marami pa pong problema iyong pagpapatupad,” he added.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), meanwhile, has apologized to affected motorists over the problematic implementation of cashless RFID system in tollways.

In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz said the agency is already discussing possible temporary interventions and permanent solutions to the problem.

Aside from the reported glitches in the system, Inton also bemoaned the lack of interoperability in the cashless system, pointing out that each vehicle would need two stickers -- the Easytrip RFID for tollways managed by the Manila North Tollways Corporation, and the Autosweep RFID for tollways managed by San Miguel Corporation.

“Ginawa nilang mandatory pero wala pang interoperability. Iyong iba naman, nahihirapan basahin [iyong RFID and Autosweep cards]. May patintero sa barrier," he said.

Inton also said a cash lane for emergency situations should be maintained. “Kasi hindi naman lahat ay araw-araw na dumadaan sa tollgate.”

“Magpapa-load ka ng P500, hindi mo naman mauubos. Hindi siya nagi-expire, pero wala na sa iyo ang pera,” Inton added.

Inton said that the toll operators cannot use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to make the cashless scheme mandatory, considering that the World Health Organization did not even issue a categorical statement that the virus can spread through money.

“Wala hong ganyang sinabi ang WHO. At ipagpalagay na natin [na puwede ma-transmit ang COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng pera], wala na bang ibang solusyon [kundi mag-cashless]? Fastfood chains use trays where you can put your cash payments sa drive thru,” Inton said.

“Okay na maging cashless, pero bigyan natin ng option ang mga tao, lalo na iyong mga hindi naman lagi dadaan roon,” he added. —KBK, GMA News