Full implementation of the said project has long been delayed and continue to lag causing great inconvenience to the public.
Presidential son, Rep. Sandro Marcos (Ilocos Norte) filed a bill in the House consolidating the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags used in all expressways.
He wants the Department of Transportation to see to it that motorists would only need one RFID sticker to pay for the tollgates in all tollways.
Marcos, along with Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla, Paranaque Rep. Edwin Olivarez, Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez and Caloocan Reps. Oscar Malapitan and Dean Asistio, filed House Resolution 159 urging the DoTr and attached agencies to fasttrack the implementation of phases 2 and 3 of the toll interoperability project.
They observed that HR No. 159 had been delayed in implementing the Toll Interoperability Project, which has caused frustration for drivers who must travel a variety using different magnetic stickers in toll roads.
They said that the initiative was initiated in 2017 and that the Covid-19 epidemic provided the time for authorities to work out the glitches in its implementation.
The authors recalled that the DOTr had set Jan. 11, 2021 as the deadline for all private and public vehicles to have RFID stickers, the Manila Bulletin reported.
Motor vehicle owners were required to carry both AutoSweep and Easytrip RFID cards rather than just one since there are two toll concessionaires.
While just one RFID sticker would be required in Phase 3, Phase 2 of the proposal would still allow the use of the two RFID wallets on any toll highway.
The goal of HR No. 159 is to make it easy, quick, and comfortable for drivers to pay tolls at toll booths, particularly during the epidemic, cashless or no-contact transactions have been the standard, Marcos said.
In the House of Representatives, Marcos serves as the senior deputy majority leader.
Tags: #expressways, #oneRFID, #DOTr