TRB: ABOUT 100,000 VEHICLES STILL WITHOUT RFID

Hundred thousand of motorists still without RFID, implementation of unified collection system for the country’s toll operators will face a new delay (Photo courtesy of Grig Montegrande/Inquirer)

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has urged motorists to install Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) using the expressways for their vehicles before the implementation of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-001 or the “Revised Guidelines For All Vehicles Travelling On Toll Expressways”.

TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo disclosed that 4.8 percent of motorists still haven’t installed RFID devices, translating to around 100,000 vehicles. “About 100,000 vehicles still don’t have RFIDs. So, we are asking tollway users who have not installed the RFID to do so as soon as possible.”

However, around 95.2 percent of cars using the expressways have RFID devices installed. Currently, motorists use two kinds of RFID devices: AutoSweep for travelers going South Luzon, and Easytrip for travelers going North Luzon which are operated by two different companies.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) earlier deferred the implementation of the new policy program which aims to enforce cashless toll collection and maintain sufficient load when using TRB-controlled tollways to January 2025.

The TRB stated on the postponement of the implementation, “That's true, that's also in deference to the resolution passed by the House of Representatives committee on transportation not to implement the charging of fines until the operational issues of our toll operators are fixed.”

Also, as the concessionaires continue to undertake measures to “fine-tune” the system. The “interoperability” of operators of the country’s major toll highways would likely be in place “either by January or February” next year.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista assured the public the department would ensure that the toll operators comply before implementing the new toll policies. It will also continue its campaign for motorists to install RFID or ETC devices for their expressway journeys.

The JMC 2024-01 authorizes toll operators to install “No RFID, No Entry” and “No Sufficient Load, No Entry” signs at toll gates and impose fines for violators.

Source: Daily Tribune

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