Tugade wants boom barriers at toll plazas removed

MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday said he will soon order the removal of boom barriers at expressway toll plazas as the government implements the mandatory cashless toll payment scheme.

In a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Tugade said toll operators should “bear the cost” if there are glitches in their Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) payment scheme.

The Transportation chief said boom barriers at the turnpikes are meant to ensure that every motorist that use the expressways will pay the toll.

“Kapag nagkaroon ng glitch, sagutin niyo na iyon because that is a problem of the system,” Tugade said.

“If it is a problem of the system why you should make the public suffer? You bear the cost because that is your system. Pag-aralan niyo yan sa lalong madaling panahon kasi iimplement ko talaga yan. Papaalis ko yung mga barriers,” he added.

Additionally, Tugade said the removal of the boom barriers at the toll plazas will allow the fast entry and movement of emergency vehicles.

The government has ordered toll operators to automate their payment system to limit human contact and contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

But the implementation of the cashless payment scheme was marred with glitches that triggered heavy traffic in several areas.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian ordered the suspension of the business permit of NLEX Corp. after the alleged faulty implementation of the toll operator’s RFID payment system triggered the buildup of severe traffic in Valenzuela City. Gatchalian’s The order prevented NLEX from collecting toll from motorists.

READ: Gatchalian halts NLEX Corp. operation in Valenzuela City amid ‘RFID mess’

/MUF