TRANSPORT groups urged the government for the full implementation of the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) project, which they said will complement the crackdown against out-of-line vehicles.
Roberto “Obet” Martin, national president of Pasang Masda, said that after 30 years of being in the transport sector, the RFID is the right solution to the problem.
“Ako’y naniniwala dahil nakita ko mismo na ang RFID ay ang solusyon na ito,” Martin said, adding that they are willing to be the first group to pilot test RFID.
Another transport group, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) also voiced the same support.
“Sana pakinggan naman ng bagong gobyerno na ang natatanging solusyon lamang sa colorum ay ang RFID dahil sa malalaman na talaga kung sino ang colorum at kung sino ang legal na pampaublikong sasakyan sa kalye,” said ACTO national president Efren De Luna.
“Ang kaisa-isang rason lamang na nakikita ko kung bakit may mga grupong tumututol dito sa napakagandang project na ito ay kung meron silang pinoprotektahang colorum operator,” he added.
The RFID project launched last year but some militant groups such as Bayan Muna and the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston), manifested their opposition and filed for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) at the Supreme Court (SC).
The groups questioned the constitutionality and legality of the RFID project, saying it violate one’s privacy as well as provisions of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) was able to tag some 90,000 vehicles before it was stopped by the High Court’s ruling.
Other transport groups supporting the RFID project are the Alliance of Transport Operations and Drivers (ALTODAP), Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines (LTOP), Integrated Bus Operators Association (INTERBOA), Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP), Metro Manila Bus Operators Association (MMBOA), Metrobus, Transporter, and the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila (ATOMM).
RFID is a technology which uses radio frequency to identify objects such as a vehicle without human intervention. It has been used to control traffic volume, toll payment and motor vehicle registration in other countries. (AH/Sunnex)