Kilometers-long traffic for RFID installation pushes deadline to Jan. 11, 2021 • PhilSTAR Life

The kilometers-long traffic today and the past few days has prompted the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to move the deadline of RFID installation on vehicles from Dec. 1 to Jan. 11, 2021.

Even before the mandatory RFID stickers, motorists have long been complaining about why they need to secure two separate stickers for the highways connecting Metro Manila to northern and southern Luzon. It’s because two private firms are operating NCR’s expressways: SMC, headed by Ramon Ang, operates the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, Southern Luzon Expressway, Skyway System, NAIA Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway; and Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. (MPTC), headed by Manny V. Pangilinan, operates the North Luzon Expressway.

SMC and MPTC have been installing RFID stickers for months now at their respective toll exits on Skyway/SLEX and NLEX. SMC has so far installed 1.7 million RFID stickers, and Metro Pacific 1.5 million stickers. Toll plazas will go cashless after Jan. 11, the second deadline extension after the original Nov. 1 deadline and Dec. 1 extension.

The long line of vehicles at NAIA exit last Friday, Nov. 27, to meet the Dec. 1 deadline. Photo by Miguel de Guzman/Philippine Star

SMC president Ramon Ang on Sunday already raised doubts that all vehicles using the expressways would meet the deadline. “My honest opinion is we will need at least until February. We are asking the government to allow us to retain a few cash lanes until February. Our sticker installation sites are still packing long lines, especially over the weekend. Given the surge in last-minute applications, we don’t think we will be able to serve everyone. A large number of motorists will not make it to the Dec. 1 deadline.”

He added that tollway operators have complied and equipped all lanes for cashless transactions. “We can then assign some lanes for continued stickering and at least one lane for cash payment. This is in case traffic builds up due to long lines at toll plazas. Some motorists can still opt to pay in cash and have their sticker installed on their next trip.”

Traffic at Balintawak toll plaza today, Dec. 1. Photo by Michael Varcas/Philippine Star

As early as October, with the original Nov. 2 deadline approaching, gas stations along NLEX ran out of RFID stickers as motorists tried to avoid the long lines at toll exits starting at Balintawak. DIY sticker kits also quickly ran out on Lazada and Shopee.

Banner photo by Michael Varcas/Philippine Star