No takers for RFID

One has always been “allergic” to unnecessary red tape in government that only torments the citizens with hassles, additional expense, and a hodge-podge of clearances. The worst likelihood is forcing the public to find the path of least resistance, that is, resort to the “under the table” connection that abets corruption.

One of the bureaucracy-laden agency has been the Land Transportation Office whose leadership appears to be “innovative” in coming up with “add-on” gimmicks in expense to motorists and lengthen the red tape. There was the so-called “early warning device” coming from the LTO itself, not just any similar warning gadget. And then came the “emission test” which is turning out into a cruel joke for non-compliance.

And probably the worst sin of grave omission by the LTO springs from its lackadaisical “passing” of driver applicants, both in written test and the on-the-road practicum. Perhaps, nowhere else in the world – except in the Philippines – where the driver’s license is obtained by the “grease” of you know what.

Then came LTO’s latest money-making baby, the Radio Frequency Identification Device which its conscienceless leaders have aggressively promoted. Led by ex-PNP mogul Arturo Lomibao, they tried vainly to justify the RFID that allegedly transmits radio waves to LTO monitors, thus, clearing passing vehicles as “registered” or not (“colorum”), or carnapped and/or smuggled motor vehicles.

At first blush, LTO’s argument seemed sensible, but then, why throw the burden of catching the MV bad eggs to the legitimate road users? “Unsa na man lang ang buhaton sa LTO nga dili man nila bantayan ug gukoron ang mga malapason? Matud pa sa panag-ingnan, hayahay pa sila sa polis sa Carbon.”

What worsens the LTO advocacy for RFID is their attitude. Despite the public uproar and protests from motor vehicle owners and drivers nationwide, and capped by a Supreme Court suit on constitutional ground, the LTO insisted on implementing it. From their unspoken doubt, LTO spokesmen seemed to foresee RFID’s demise at the SC, and yet, they had the temerity of enforcing it while the case was still pending resolution.

What blatancy… Hence, the SC shot it down and the LTO has been ordered to reimburse those who have already been forced to come across the P350 or so additional expense. The early victims were the owners of the MVs with Plate Numbers ending with 1, registrable in January. In essence, the Supreme Court “status quo ante” order forbids the DOTC and LTO from further implementing the RFID, and restoring the status prior thereto, that is, status quo “ante litem”.

Doubting Thomases have also been vocal with rich ideas, like, there must be a “catch” to this RFID gimmick. And the usual “catch” could be the millions of MVs nationwide that could translate into more than half a billion worth of RFID. Those with strong “connections” with the LTO would be the possible suppliers of the devices and stickers with electronic chips, as well as the computer fees in installing the stickers.

If it be true about this fishy “catch”, and there’s no reason why it’s not, what a lucrative racket that the RFID could line the pockets and built-in sacs of corrupt leeches in government and their cohorts.

It’s thus imperative for the Supreme Court in coming out with the order to shot down the LTO’s continued enforcement of the RFID requirement, and ultimately, to kill the controversial measure altogether for being unconstitutional.

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