Gatchalian files resolution to review toll operators' concession deals on RFID; calls for toll holiday

Senator Win Gatchalian formally asked the Senate to review the minimum performance standards compliance of toll operators stipulated in their concession agreements as well as the powers and functions of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the government agency that regulates all toll roads in the country.

Gatchalian, in filing Monday afternoon Senate Resolution No. 587, said the conduct of an inquiry is in aid of legislation and in exercise of the Senate's oversight functions.

"There is a need to review the concession agreements of existing tollway operators to check if the operation of their toll collection system conforms to the minimum standard specifications for operations and maintenance under toll operations certificate or agreement," he said.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee likewise said that a review of the existing oversight mechanisms set by Presidential Decree 1112, which created the TRB, is also in order.

The TRB, by virtue of PD 1112, was created to grant authority to operate a toll facility and issue the necessary "Toll Operation Certificate" as well as the power to amend, modify or revoke the same whenever public interest so requires, Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said the TRB should implement a toll holiday in the wake of an admission from NLEX on the glitches in their system, including the malfunctioning of RFID sensors on vehicles. NLEX Corp. Senior Vice President for Communications Junji Quimbo, earlier acknowledged the veracity of claims of motorists on the defective RFID sensors and vowed to remedy the situation and improve their operations in the coming days.

Gatchalian's move stemmed from the numerous issues surrounding the full implementation since December 1 of the electronic toll collection (ETC) and the compulsory use of radio frequency identification device (RFID) to ensure 100 percent cashless or contactless transactions to lessen human contract and prevent infections from coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"These malfunctioning RFID sensors and installation of RFID stickers exacerbated the already dismal traffic situation in the tollways and nearby roads since the start of the shift to a purely cashless toll collection system," said Gatchalian.

"Thousands of motorists have been suffering from the horrendous traffic that has been going on for a week now and which could have been prevented had they exercised prudence before setting a deadline on the implementation of the RFID system. What's more glaring than the admission of the fact that the system is not equipped enough to carry out the cashless payment scheme? Does that not constitute gross negligence on the part of the toll operator?" he asked.

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Gatchalian naghain ng resolusyon laban sa kapalpakan sa RFID; nanawagan ng toll holiday

Naghain ng resolusyon si Senador Win Gatchalian para busisiin ang minimum performance standards compliance ng toll operators na nakapaloob sa concession agreements nila sa pamahalaan kasunod ng kapalpakan sa Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), pati na ang kapangyarihan at mandato ngToll Regulatory Board (TRB), ang ahensiyang namamahala sa operasyon ng lahat ng toll roads sa bansa.

Sa inihain niyang Senate Resolution No. 587 nitong nakaraang Lunes, sinabi ni Gatchalian na nararapat lamang na mabusisi ang mandato ng TRB lalo na't binigyan ito ng kapangyarihang humawak at mangialam sa lahat ng toll roads sa bisa ng Presidential Decree 1112 na siyang bumuo ng naturang ahensiya.

"Nararapat lamang na busisiin ang concession agreements ng tollway operators para malaman kung ginagawa ba nila ang kanilang mandato kaugnay ng kanilang kasunduan sa pamahalaan," ang mariing sinabi ng senador.

Nanawagan din ang Vice Chairman ng Senate Economic Affairs Committee ng toll holiday lalo na't marami pa rin ang nagrereklamong mga motorista laban sa depektibong RFID sensors na siyang isang dahilan para magkabuhol-buhol ang daloy ng trapiko sa mga expressways.

Mismong NLEX na, ani Gatchalian, ang umamin ng technical glitches sa kanilang sistema, kabilang na ang hindi gumaganang RFID sensors sa mga sasakyan. Nangako rin ng pamunuan ng NLEX na hahanap sila ng solusyon para mailatag nang maayos ang cashless transaction sa mga toll at mapabuti ang lagay ng trapiko sa expressways sa mga susunod na araw.

Ang ipinapatupad na cashless transaction o contactless transaction sa mga tollways ay bahagi ng hakbang para makaiwas sa impeksiyon ng COVID-19.

"Itong mga hindi gumaganang RFID sensors isama na ang dagsa ng mga sasakyan na nagpapakabit ng RFID stickers ang lalong nagpalala sa malala nang dagsaan ng mga sasakyan sa mga tollways," sabi ni Gatchalian.

"Umamin na ang mismong pamunuan ng NLEX ng kapalpakan sa sistema. Hindi ba't maliwanag na hindi sila naging handa bago ipatupad ang unang araw ng cashless transaction? Maliwanag na mayroong kapabayaan sa kanilang hanay kaya lumala ang problema ng trapiko sa mga tollways," ayon sa senador.

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