Senate panel probe on faulty RFID system set on Dec. 17 — Poe

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate public services panel will start on Dec. 17 the investigation into the cashless toll system, which was recently blamed for the traffic jam at Valenzuela City’s toll plazas.

Senator Grace Poe, who heads the said committee, said the probe will tackle the government regulators’ process in improving the faulty radio frequency identification (RFID).

“Unang-una, nais nating maayos ang sitwasyon para sa ating mga kababayan, na hindi naman sila napeperwisyo at nahihirapang pumila doon at nakababad ng matagal. Pangalawa, nais nating malaman ano ba talaga ang naging dahilan kung bakit hindi maayos ang pagpapatakbo nito?” the senator said in a statement on Sunday.

(First and foremost, we want to fix the situation for the public so that they don’t have a difficult time waiting in long lines in traffic. Second, we want to know the reason behind the issues of this system.)

“Gusto nating tanungin ang DOTr [Department of Transportation], maganda kasi ang pakay ng pagkakaroon ng cashless system… pero ang problema dito, kahit naman sa ibang mga bansa na maayos ang sistema kaysa dito, hindi naman ganu’n kabilis nagagawa ang mga ganyan. Matagal ‘yan, may proseso ‘yan,” she added.

(We want to ask the DOTr because the cashless system is good, but the problem is even in other countries, it takes them time to fix this system, it takes a long process.)

The Senate committee will also tackle the complaints of malfunctioning RFID readers.

Poe also noted the slow response of government regulators at the tollways despite the complaints from motorists.

“’Yung Toll Regulatory Board ay parang natulog sa pansitan,” she said.

(The Toll Regulatory Board is sleeping on the issue.)

Last week, the Valenzuela City government suspended the business permit of NLEX Corporation for its failure in the implementation of RFID.

The transportation department previously said the apprehension of vehicles without RFID stickers will begin after January 11.

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