Fix RFID glitches, tollway operators told
SENATOR Grace Poe has expressed support for calls to delay the October 1 rollout of cashless toll plazas, echoing concerns raised by lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
She emphasized that before penalties are imposed on motorists, tollway operators and concerned agencies must ensure that all RFID devices are reliable and free from glitches.
Poe pointed out the recurring issues faced by motorists, such as RFIDs not being read properly at toll plazas, which results in the manual scanning of cards—a process that slows traffic and causes congestion.
Also, some devices fail to display the remaining balance in RFID accounts, leaving motorists unaware of their available funds.
The senator highlighted the long queues of vehicles at the single booth along NLEX where RFID stickers are installed, demonstrating the lack of access points for motorists to obtain the stickers. Poe reiterated her earlier question, asking: “Whatever happened to the promise to have only one RFID for all tollways?”
Poe suggested that transport authorities should maintain a lane for cash payments to accommodate unforeseen issues, such as malfunctioning scanners. She emphasized that with the imposition of toll fees, road users were promised a seamless and efficient toll collection system, which is not being delivered.
“Our motorists deserve to get quality service that they are paying for,” Poe said.
Based on reports, motorists have been facing significant delays at NLEX toll gates due to malfunctioning RFID scanners, especially during high-traffic periods like Holy Wednesday.
It was noted that low-quality RFID readers may be to blame, sparking a legislative investigation.
The House leadership reportedly called for a thorough examination, involving officials from NLEX, SLEX, and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to address the issue.
If the problems persist, Congress may review the operating licenses of the expressway operators and explore alternative providers. The House is committed to resolving these RFID malfunctions to prevent future traffic disruptions.
