Motorists without radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers will still be able to enter and have RFID stickers installed at toll expressways beyond December 1, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.

In a message to reporters, DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said a “stickering lane” will still be available to motorists at the tollgates.

Libiran said only motorists who will enter RFID lanes without an RFID sticker will be penalized.

“Beyond December 1, may RFID stickering lane pa rin na padadaanan sa mga motorista na wala pang sticker. Doon sila dapat na dumaan. Meron ding installation site bago mag-toll road na pwede nyang pag-installan (Beyond December 1, there will still be RFID stickering lanes that motorists without stickers can enter. They’re supposed to pass through there. There will also be installation sites before toll roads that they can visit to have an RFID sticker installed),” Libiran said.

In her newspaper column, Libiran said the Toll Regulatory Board’s (TRB) Implementing Rules and Regulations on mandatory cashless transactions at tollways requires RFID installation/registration booths and account reloading/balance check stations in “various strategic areas and locations” in all toll expressways

“This can be accessed at all entries to expressways, other sites such as convenience stores, malls, online stores, banks, and even electronic wallets,” Libiran said.

Last Friday, the TRB said the interoperability of the country’s two expressway operators will likely happen in the middle of 2021, noting that motorists hoping to ply all toll expressways beyond December 1 will need two different RFID tags. (PNA)