TRB to impose 3-strike policy vs ‘abusive’ RFID users
MANILA, Philippines — The Tollway Regulatory Board (TRB) will impose a three-strike policy against motorists abusing the cashless toll collection, an official from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.
In an online press briefing, Transportation Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman lamented that there are radio-frequency identification (RFID) sticker users entering lanes without load.
“Since marami na RFID users, sad to say, marami na rin ho yung nagaabuso pumapasok ng [RFID lanes] using RFID na wala talagang load. May statistics na binigay ang [toll] operators, mayroong 50 times, 200 times pumapasok na walang load so napagkasunduan sa TRB na we will conduct massive information campaign,” De Guzman said, reacting to a query about the updates on cashless toll system.
(Since we have a lot of RFID users, it is sad to say that there are a lot of people using the RFID system without load. There are statistics from operators showing that some motorists are entering the tollways without load so we in the TRB talked and found that we will conduct a massive information campaign.)
“Napagkasunduan sa board, sa utos ni [Transportation] Sec [Arthur] Tugade, mag-a-adopt ng po kami ng strike three policy kung baga kung naka-strike three ka na pumasok ng RFID lanes na wala ka namang load huhulihin ka na,” he added.
(We talked with the board, upon Tugade’s order, we will adopt a strike three policy wherein if you entered the RFID lanes without load, we will apprehend you.)
De Guzman pointed out that on the first offense, motorists will be reminded to reload for the RFID lanes. On the second offense, the driver will be warned, and on the third offense, the driver will be slapped with appropriate fines.
“Dito madidisiplina ang tao na mag-load before pumasok ng RFID lanes para hindi maka-abala sa mga compliant RFID users,” the transportation official said.
(This way, the public will be disciplined to reload before entering RFID lanes so that it would not bother compliant RFID users.)
READ: SMC hits target 156 RFID stickering sites; tollways to go 100% cashless by Jan 11
Meanwhile, De Guzman said the missing RFID load were already accounted for, noting that the operators would restore the load in case of glitches.
Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, who was outspoken on the RFID issues, previously raised concern over the missing load of RFID accounts.
DPWH tapped as tollway marshals
De Guzman also cited the lack of TRB personnel due to increase in regulation of tollways since the cashless tollway system was imposed.
To address this, the transport official said they will sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to deploy tollway marshals, who will assist the tollway operators and motorists at tollway plazas.
“In the meantime, sa utos ni Sec Tugade, mag-fi-field na kami ng toll marshals doon sa plazas para bantayan yung operators kung magcocomply sa kanilang obligasyon under their agreement doon sa tollway operations nila,” De Guzman said.
(In the meantime, on orders from Tugade, we will field toll marshals at the plazas to monitor operators if they will comply with their obligations under their agreement in their tollway operations.)
“Si [Public Works Secretary] Mark [Villar] graciously na magvolunteer na iyong mga district offices ng DPWH kukuha ng tao para i-train as toll marshals,” he added.
(Mark Villar graciously volunteered the DPWH district offices to employ people and train them as toll marshals.)
