SAN FABIAN–Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao, chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), said his agency is open to consultation and adjustments on the controversial Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System project for motor vehicles.

However, Lomibao stood pat and defended the project, particularly the sale and implementation of the use of the RFID stickers in every motor vehicle in the country.

“I sincerely believe that this is going to be a novel project”, said Lomibao when interviewed by the local media last Thursday.

Lomibao also brushed aside “malicious insinuations” that the project is intended to personally benefit him by using the income that will be derived from the project to help finance his campaign kitty for next year’s election in the 4th district.

Local motorists here, however, shared many of the objections voiced in the national media. Most balked at the fee imposed for the stickers, on top of the annual registration and other fees.

Victor de Guzman, a professional in Dagupan, said the “RFID sticker should be made optional because the only benefit it gives car-owners is to help recover a carnapped vehicle, therefore, it can be availed of like an added insurance premium.

Jeepney drivers said the cost of the RFID sticker is a needless added burden to their operational costs.

The RFID project drew flak and vehement opposition from several sectors, including human rights groups that assert it is a violation of privacy.

Lomibao explained that RFID is a technology that has been widely used in other countries like China, Dubai, Singapore and some states in the United States to aid law enforcers in identifying, screening and detecting motor vehicles that break regulations.

He said the RFID sticker is a microchip tag, like the bar code used in goods, two inches by four inches in size, positioned inside the vehicle’s windshield.

The tag can help lawmen curb car theft, proliferation of colorum utility vehicles, and other illegal activities on the road, Lomibao added.

The RFID project, he said, was studied thoroughly by the DOTC and by his office and found it to be “legal, fair and reasonable”, including the P350 cost per tag.

Lomibao also clarified that the order for the implementation of RFID came from the DOTC and LTO is just the implementing agency.

“But since there is a call by some sectors that this be deferred for more consultations, we are open to this, if only to satisfy the suspicion and concerns of the people,” Lomibao said.

While Lomibao admitted that there was no public hearing conducted on the matter he pointed out that prior consultation was done in Cebu attended by more than 40 transport leaders from the Visayas and Mindanao, and another in Metro Manila, where one group expressed its vigorous objection.

The LTO plans to implement RFID stickers beginning October. All motor vehicles, such as cars, trucks, jeeps, jeepneys, sports utility vans and motorcycles will be required to have RFID stickers upon registration and renewal.  Exempted are tri-bikes and kuliglig (hand tractors).— LM

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