Valenzuela’s Gatchalian hits NLEX over ‘non-responsive’ RFID sensors

MANILA, Philippines — Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian let out a rant on social media over what he called the “non-responsive” radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

“NLEX Corporation, the riding public of Valenzuela deserves better! Prepaid na nga ayaw pa niyo padaanin mga vehicles dahil none responsive mga RFID sensors niyo,” he said in a Facebook post-Thursday.

(We have prepaid accounts but you don’t want vehicles to pass through because your RFID sensors are non-responsive.)

Gatchalian went on saying that one of the “bosses” at NLEX even told him that there was no problem with the RFID sensors and that the mayor was the only one who was complaining about it.

“Mr. Raul Ignacio of NLEX, wake up and look at the build-up of cars in your interchanges leading into the city. Ikaw na lang po ata ang hindi nakakakita na malaki na ang problema (It seems you are the only one who could not see that the problem is already huge),” he said.

Ignacio is the chief tollway development officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. that manages NLEX.

“For you to tell me that I’m the only one complaining goes to show the company attitude towards this problem that I have [been] bringing up to your attention for the past 7 years na (already),” the local chief executive said.

He pointed out that the management of NLEX should have fixed the matter in the previous years, and that the problem on the sensors is now bigger with the shift to a cashless system of payment at toll gates.

The Department of Transportation earlier ordered the full implementation of cashless toll collections at expressways and major toll roads, in a bid to reduce physical contact in these areas as a measure against the spread of the new coronavirus, and to avoid traffic congestion in toll plazas.

“Obviously, the first step in fixing this problem is to admit there is a problem. NLEX we deserve better! How can we start solving the problem when to begin with, your boss refuses to even admit na may problem?” Gatchalian said.

Meanwhile, Romulo Quimbo, MPTC chief communications officer, told INQUIRER.net they are already looking at the issue raised by the mayor and expect a report within the day.

EDV