MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Transportation is set to file a resolution recommending to abolish or delay the implementation of the memorandum punishing motorists entering expressways with insufficient or zero load balance on radio frequency identification devices (RFID)
The joint memorandum circular signed by the Toll Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, and the Department of Transportation is set to begin by August 31 but moved to October 1.
“Nagiging arbitrary ang paglagay ninyo ng penalty dito kung hindi ninyo kinonduct yang study na yan. Di naman lahat ng tao kaya magbayad dyan sa gusto ninyo. Sino ba talaga ang boss ninyo: yung mga concessionaires o yung mga taong nagco-commute dyan? And your answer was the people commuting. But the way I look at it, hindi,” Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop said Thursday.
Acop said the committee will draft a resolution asserting the panel’s position that they recommend either scrapping or delaying the implementation of the joint memorandum circular until the tollway systems are proven efficient to the committee’s satisfaction.
He said that if a lawmaker files a resolution requesting an investigation into the memorandum, the committee would take immediate action.
TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo explained that the JMC was issued to alleviate toll gate traffic, which often happens when a motorist’s RFID load is insufficient, preventing the tollway barrier from lifting.
Regarding penalties, Carullo clarified that this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the LTO.
“Iba po yung guidelines sa penalty sa toll operators. Yun po yung Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications (MPSS) for Toll Collection System (TCS) of Expressways,” he said.
Under the memorandum, fines await those motorists entering the expressways with insufficient or zero load balance.
The fines range from P500 to P5,000 depending on the violation.
Here are the monetary sanctions for violating the order:
Entering a tollway without an RFID sticker:
- First offense – P1,000
- Second offense – P2,000
- Third offense – P5,000
Leaving the toll expressway with insufficient balance:
- First offense — P500
- Second offense — P1,000
- Subsequent offenses — P2,500
Using fake, tampered, or counterfeit RFID devices and e-cards will incur the following penalties:
Subsequent offenses – P5,000 per offense
First offense – P1,000
Second offense – P2,000
