Transport groups slam LTO for delaying RFID fee refund

MANILA, Philippines - Two transport groups criticized the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for putting off until next year the refund of more than P30 million in fees it collected for the suspended radiofrequency identification (RFID) project.

The Bangon Transport and the Progress and Reforms Oriented Transport Organization Network, Inc. (Proton) said delaying the refund is “very unfair” and highly improper, considering the haste in which the agency had implemented the project at the start of the year and collected the fees.

Mario Bunag, Proton secretary general, said the one-year delay would cause more questions, particularly on the interest the P30 million would generate.

“Why the one-year delay? The Supreme Court has already issued the status quo ante (order) as early as the middle of last month and there’s no reason why it should not be refunded immediately,” Bunag said.

Proton and Bangon Transport issued the statement after the LTO said last week it has drawn up a timetable for the RFID fee refund by next year.

In December 2009, the SC granted a temporary restraining order sought by transport groups, led by Piston, and other party-list groups that questioned the legality of the RFID program. – Rainier Allan Ronda