LTO defers RFID project

Tuguegarao City (8 October) — The Land Transportation Office has deferred the implementation of the controversial Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) project to allow for further public consultations.

LTO chief Arturo Lomibao made the announcement after a consultation meeting with various groups, including those who opposed the program.

Lomibao proposed the program known as electronic tagging, should be first implemented on government vehisles to set an example and allay fears that the project would be used by government to spy on citizens.

He proposed that the vehicle tagging be made voluntary from October to December this year.

“But all of these are just recommendations. We would have to await the final word of Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza on this. Pending the DOTC decision, the consultations would continue and we would try to reach as many as we can, Lomibao added.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Alberto Suansing said it’s not true that the LTO surprised the public with the RFID project since it was tested in 2008 when he was then LTO administrator.

The DOTC and the National Economic and Development Authority has scrutinized the project, causing the delay in implementation. (PIA 2)