Senator Grace Poe filed a resolution to suspend the implementation of 100 percent cashless transactions in toll plazas due to faults in the radio frequency identification (RFID) system.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said he would also call Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade because of the RFID problems that some local officials, besides motorists, are also complaining about.
“Today that resolution is being circulated from my committee. I heard from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who was one of the first to present that, that he will support this call. Because that is the DOTr… Why let it go the operator and local government will fight and the people will suffer, “said the senator.
“We are asking the DOTr to suspend the full implementation of the 100-percent cashless transaction … The system isn’t completely ready,” he added.
Due to the cashless transaction plan, many motorists are enduring long queues to get RFID causing traffic.
Also slowing down the flow of vehicles is not reading the RFID tag of the sensors at the toll gate.
Poe also wants to know why some toll operators demand a minimum load of P500 from RFID installers.
“That minimum load is a big amount for some, especially if the toll they need to pay is just less than P100. That minimum load is even higher than the minimum wage,” puna ng mambabatas.
Sen. also filed a resolution. Gatchalian to check the minimum performance standards compliance of toll operators due to malfunction in the implementation of RFID system.
He also wants to investigate the Toll Regulatory Board which is among those who should implement the program.
Earlier, Sen.’s brother suspended. Gatchalian Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian has NLEX business permit in his constituency due to the failure to take steps to resolve the traffic complaint caused by the adoption of RFID tags and unreadable sensors.
Some local officials also have a NLEX toll gate in their jurisdiction complaining about a similar problem in Valenzuela.
