‘No RFID, no entry’ advisory on skyway is not yet final

Photo courtesy of Patrick Roque

An advisory posted at toll gates along the Skyway has been causing an uproar among motorists of Metro Manila’s southern cities. The traffic post says “exclusive to RFID user only.”  That said, Soledad (Bicutan) and Dr. A. Santos (Sucat) exits will soon be limited to radio-frequency identification (RFID) users only, but it does not indicate when will it become effective. These roads are used by motorists going to the cities of Taguig, Paranaque, and Muntinlupa.

To clarify this matter, an official of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) that manages and regulates toll facilities, cleared up that the proposed plan is not yet final. The mandatory use of RFID stickers for Skyway users has been raised by the Skyway O&M Corp. last year. However, TRB spokesperson Alberto Suansing explained that they were instructed to conduct a sensitivity analysis first to know its impact on motorists and see how they will react to the said policy.

Suansing also mentioned that part of the reason for this initiative was to lessen the gridlock at toll plazas along the Skyway, where a buildup of cars at gates for cash payments usually happen. Now, with the subsequent reaction from netizens, we’re not sure if the proposed RFID exclusivity will push through. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. We’ll see.

In case you didn’t know, RFID is an e-pass device that you can use for toll transaction through the electronic toll collection (ETC) system integrated at various toll gates. As such, drivers don’t have to roll down their windows to give out the payment – easier, faster, and more convenient.

Source: Inquirer.net