First day of RFID tagging met with opposition

CEBU, Philippines - Local transport leaders are opposing the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) tagging on motor vehicles that the Land Transportation Office implemented starting yesterday.

RFID tagging for motorcycles is suspended until February 15, 2010.

Jolito Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, said majority of those who attended the consultative meeting with LTO last year reportedly opposed the RFID, but the transport groups still reportedly could do nothing about it because LTO allegedly approved its implementation even before the consultation.

“Majority sa nangatend kay supak, hasta ko, kay additional gasto na ug maghatag og pangurakot na sad sa taga-LTO,” Flores said.

Roy Opura, chairman of the militant transport group Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo, said he personally opposes the RFID, albeit, NADSU is yet to arrive at an official stand on the issue.

“Ang akong pagtan-aw ani nga kining ilang gihimo dugang lang nga paglisud-lisud ug pangwarta sa mga drivers ug operators,” Opura said.

LTO came up with RFID tagging to detect colorum vehicles easily, considering that the RFID sticker would be placed only on registered vehicles.

The RFID sticker contains a microchip that contains the vehicle’s information that can only be removed by an authorized LTO personnel or law enforcers, thus, eradicates tampering. Each RFID sticker costs around P350 per unit.

LTO 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos said all motorcycles vehicles, except motorcycles, should comply with the implementation or will remain unregistered. Unregistered vehicles will be impounded and the owner will be fined P2,000.

In Manila, motorist groups also greeted the RFID tagging with rallies, contending that the same is but an additional expense on the part of vehicle owners.

Should the Supreme Court not issue a Temporary Restraining Order on the implementation, vehicle detection through the RFID would take effect by October this year. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO    (FREEMAN NEWS)