100K vehicles still have no RFID —TRB

Around 100,000 vehicles do not have radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, an official from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said on Monday. 

''About 100,000, so malaki pa rin iyong ating walang ano. Kaya humihingi po kami, pinapakiusapan po natin iyong ating mga tollway express users na wala pang RFID, magpakabit na po kayo ng RFID sa lalong madaling panahon,'' TRB executive director Alvin Carullo said at a Palace press briefing. 

(About 100,000, so a huge number of vehicles still have no RFID. We are asking toll express users who do not have RFID to already install this at the soonest possible time.)

The said figure was 4.8% of the number of motorists, Carullo said. 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has moved anew the implementation of the revised guidelines on toll expressways to next year.

“The DOTr has the tools to address congestion on major roads but is taking time for a thorough review to ensure these solutions meet motorists’ needs,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said Sunday in a statement.

The penalties for violations of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001 or the Revised Guidelines for All Vehicles on Toll Expressways may take effect starting January next year, Bautista said.

The joint memorandum circular was signed by DOTr, Toll Regulatory Board, and Land Transportation Office to enforce cashless toll collection using the RFID.

The DOTr said information from public consultation, including data on violators, will be analyzed for possible amendment of the circular.—LDF, GMA Integrated News