Defer 3-strike policy vs RFID users, TRB urged

MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) should defer the three-strike policy against motorists using RFID or radio frequency identification lanes without enough load until the interoperability of the two major tollway operators is in place, a House leader said yesterday.

“Until such time that Easytrip and Autosweep are made compatible with each other’s tollway system, no fines should be imposed on motorists using the expressways,” House Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian said.

San Miguel Corp. operates the South Luzon Expressway that uses the cashless toll payment Autosweep. Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. requires Easytrip cards for motorists along the North Luzon Expressway.

“Why should we penalize motorists who use the expressways when the toll operators are getting away despite bungling the implementation of the cashless toll payment system?” Gatchalian asked.

He previously urged the Department of Transportation to suspend the cashless toll collection payment until the RFID interoperability bill is passed and signed into law.

Gatchalian noted that Metro Manila lawmakers were in consensus that the RFID system should be deferred until all issues have been ironed out.

Last week, the TRB announced it would enforce a three-strike policy against motorists who keep using toll roads without enough load in their RFIDs.