Tugade apologizes to motorists, LGUs for RFID mess

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday apologized to the motorists  and local government units who were affected by the massive traffic congestion and other inconveniences caused by the RFID system in some tollways.

“Again I express my apologies to the users of the tollways, to the local government for the convenience whatever it cost. be assured that the inconveniences cost is not designed, is not intended,” Tugade said in a live briefing.

“There will be a day today, consider what is happening now as what we call a birthing experience para ayusin ho namin yan,” he added.

Many motorists have found themselves stuck in slow-moving traffic in the first several days of cashless collection of toll payment in expressways.

Due to the traffic, the local government of Valenzuela also suspended the business permit of NLEX Corporation, which cleared traffic jams in the area.

“Alam ko ho na nakakabulahaw dahil sa mga nangyari. Nahihiya po ako sa Valenzuela, sa mga local govenrment, sa mga nagmamaneho,” Tugade said.

“Be assured that your Department of Transportation, together with the TRB, the LTO, and the LTFRB are trying its utmost best to achieve that interoperability,” he added.

Tugade also said that he wanted the barriers removed.

“Sabi ko alisin niyo na lang ‘yan, diretsyo na lang ‘yan. Pagnagkaroon ng glitch, kasi pagnagkaroon ng glitch pila yan, sagutin niyo na ‘yon kasi that is a problem of the sytem. If it is a problem of the system why should you make the travelres and the public suffer? You bear the cost because that is your system,” he said. -NB, GMA News