SLOW LANES Motorists endure slow-moving traffic along North Luzon Expressway on Dec. 1, the forst day of the implementation of the cashless toll transactions. (NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday called for the resignation of the head of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) due to the glitches and heavy traffic experienced by motorists amid the implementation of mandatory cashless payment scheme on expressways.
“Kung ako po ang tatanungin talaga hong ang TRB hindi ho gumagana. Kung sino man ang head niyan e dapat na hong magbitiw at ibigay na lang ho yan sa isang marunong at alistong mamumuno,” Gatchalian said in an interview on Teleradyo.
(The TRB is not functioning. Whoever heads this must resign and hand over the post to someone who is alert and knows what to do.)
“Itong problema na ito matagal na ho ito at hindi ito nangyari overnight. Kaya ho umabot sa ganitong punto ay dahil nga hindi ho ito inasikaso to ng mga huling pagkakataon. Para sa akin ho, malaki ang pananagutan nito (TRB),” he added.
(This is a lingering problem that didn’t happen overnight. The reason it reached this point is that it was not adequately addressed before. The TRB is must be held responsible.)
The senator earlier warned expressway operators that they may lose their concessions over issues hounding the implementation of the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) cashless payment system.
He also sought for a review of the concession agreement between the government and toll operators over issues and other possible violations committed in the RFID implementation.
“Nakasaad po sa kapangyarihan ng TRB na kung ang public interest ay nasa alanganin po ay pwede pong kanselahin po yung kontrata. Tandaan ho natin, itong toll road ho ay pribiliheyo na binigay po natin sa operator. Pinahintulutan ho natin sila ng mag-operate at magbigay ho ng magandang serbisyo,” the senator said.
(The TRB can cancel the contract if public interest is compromised. Operating expressways is a privilege granted to operators. They are granted such to serve the public.)
“Kung ang magandang serbisyo po ay wala at perwisyo ho ang inaabot ho natin, e kapangyarihan din ho ng taumbayan na tanggalin ang kontrata na yun,” he added.
(If the operators cannot extend good service, the public has the power to rescind the contract.)
In the meantime, Gatchalian said toll operators should consider a “toll holiday” while addressing the RFID woes.
“Dahil alam natin na yung kanilang sistema ay bulok at hindi ho gumagana, padaanin na lamang po ang taumbayan at magbigay ng toll holiday,” he said.
(Because they are aware that the system does not measure up, they should just defer charing fees and grant a toll holiday.)
“Kung hindi nila to maayos ng mabilisan e aminin na nila na kailangan nila ng oras para ayusin nila yan, mag-toll holiday na lang ho muna,” he added.
(If they cannot fix the problem fast, they should allow a toll holiday.)
The TRB said the board is doing its job to address issues on the implementation of the RFID system.
“Bagama’t naiintindihan ho natin ang hinaing ng ating senador, ni Mayor Rex [Gatchalian] at [Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian], kami naman po ay, lingid sa kaalaman nila, ginagampanan naman po namin ang aming tungkulin ukol dito sa mga problemang nararanasan ng ating mga motorista sa pagpapatu[ad ng RFID,” TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz said in a separate interview on Teleradyo.
(While we recognize the issues raised by the senator, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Rep. Wes Gatchalian, we at TRB are working to address the problems and issues related to the RFID scheme.)