Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25) — The Department of Transportation said vehicles without RFID stickers will not be apprehended until January 11, 2021.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran made the clarification during a briefing with the Toll Regulatory Board and toll concessionaires on Wednesday.
“Wala pong mangyayaring hulihan mula December 1 hanggang January 11 (2021) para sa mga sasakyang walang RFID… Maaari lang po silang tiketan kung sila ay pipila dun sa mga RFID-only lane lalo na kung sila ay magdudulot ng aberya o abala dun sa mga sasakyang nasa likuran nila,” she said.
[Translation; There will be no apprehensions from December 1 until January 11 for vehicles without RFID… They could get ticketed if they line up at RFID-only lanes, especially when they cause traffic.]
After January 11, Libiran said there would be a limited number of lanes where motorists can get their RFID stickers. Only one or two lanes would be dedicated for that or a tent near the gate for stickering.
The DOTr set the deadline of December 1 for toll operators to fully implement cashless transactions, saying this would help stem the spread of COVID-19.
Libiran said this did not mean all motorists had to have stickers by this day.
“Hindi po ‘yon deadline, hindi po ‘yon ultimatum sa pagkakabit ng RFID stickers,” she said.
[Translation: This is not a deadline or an ultimatum to get an RFID sticker.]
The installation of stickers will continue even after December 1, she stressed, and motorists could get them on-site, meaning the toll gates or via appointment in designated areas.
In a separate House briefing, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation Chief Communication Officer Romulo Quimbo Jr. allayed fears of vehicle congestion in toll gates, saying a traffic management plan would be in place to avoid such a situation.
Both MPTC and Skyway O&M Corporation said they were ready to operate cashless collection by December 1.
