THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured motorists that the installation of RFID stickers for cashless payment in toll roads will continue after December 1, the start of the full implementation of the new toll collection scheme of expressway operators in the country.
"If you are a vehicle owner and a frequent road user, you should keep in mind that the December 1 deadline only marks the start of cashless transactions at the tollways, but does not mean the end of RFID sticker installations. There is no need to panic," the DOTr stated.
The agency clarified that the installation of RFID stickers will not stop.
"Perhaps the fear of motorists that led them to buy and have RFID stickers installed on their vehicles comes from the idea that as the 1 December deadline approaches, the installation of RFID stickers will also soon stop," it added.
The December 1 deadline serves as a signal for toll concessionaires to comply with the DOTr's mandate to shift to a full electronic toll collection, it said.
The DOTr and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) are closely coordinating with the toll concessionaires to ensure the efficient implementation of their RFID sticker installation and reloading sites to prevent inconveniences to motorists.
The DOTr also clarified that the possibility of apprehension for a motorist without an RFID sticker will happen if the said motorist traverses an "RFID only lane."
This is already part of the toll regulations, the DOTr said, where a penalty is currently being imposed on the said violation.
Motorists without RFIDs should use the RFID stickering lanes, which are still operational even beyond December 1.
Installation sites are set up before entering toll roads, where motorists may have their RFID stickers installed.
