Colmenares describes RFID fines as ‘nothing short of highway robbery’
Motorists gather at North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Balintawak Toll Plaza to avail of the radio frequency identification stickers. (INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration should stop the imposition of monetary fines for vehicles with invalid radio frequency identification (RFID) devices or insufficient load balance.
This view was aired by Bayan Muna Partylist on Friday.
Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares said the government should instead focus on providing accessible transportation.
“We demand the Marcos administration reconsider and scrap this oppressive policy. The focus should be on providing affordable and accessible solutions, not on imposing punitive fines,” he pointed out.
READ: Fines await those without RFID, with insufficient load by Aug. 31
Article continues after this advertisement“The government should focus on ensuring equitable access to transportation and not penalize those who are yet to adapt to RFID technology due to financial constraints,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisementFurthermore, the former Bayan Muna representative believes the measure is “anti-people and further burdens motorists who are already struggling with the rising costs of transportation.”
He also stressed that “imposing fines on top of recent toll hikes on SLEX [South Luzon Expressway] is nothing short of highway robbery.”
READ: Prove RFID devices reliability before fining drivers – Poe
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe, in a statement on Thursday, said RFID should undergo a test of reliability following complaints from motorists that the devices at the tollways cannot read the RFID stickers.
According to her, the test should first be done before imposing monetary fines for motorists who will have insufficient load balance or defective RFID as they pass through the expressways.
The Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office and Toll Regulatory Board signed this regulation under the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001 last August 1.
It will take effect on August 31, 2024.
