Senator Lito Lapid has expressed his full support for Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon’s decision to suspend the controversial “No RFID, No Entry” policy enforced by two toll operators on Luzon expressways.
Lapid, a Pampanga native and frequent NLEX motorist, urged the Toll Regulatory Board, DOTr, and toll companies to explore the implementation of a unified RFID system across all tollways. He believes this will provide faster and more convenient travel for motorists.
The senator also cited persistent traffic congestion at toll plazas due to RFID scanner failures, even when vehicles have sufficient load.
“In our observations, installed RFIDs are often incompatible, which is why sensors fail to read them at toll gates. Many motorists also run out of load or experience insufficient balance without prior notice when exiting tollways,” Lapid said.
He stressed the need for a modernized and standardized RFID system for all tollway operators to eliminate inefficiencies and improve the overall experience for commuters.
“It’s time we implement a single RFID system for all tollways to make transactions more efficient and avoid unnecessary delays at toll gates,” Lapid added.
The senator also slammed the toll operators’ cashless-only policy, calling it “anti-poor” and unfair for penalizing motorists without RFID or those with insufficient balance.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Lapid warned that the policy could negatively impact domestic tourism across Luzon.
He also commended Secretary Dizon for halting policies that he said were anti-poor and lacked proper consultation with affected stakeholders.