By ADELA WAYAS
www.nordis.net

Aside from the news that a powerful earthquake, magnitude 7.0 hit Haiti, the motorists in the country are also facing another regulation by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

After LTO implemented the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) program, different transport groups nationwide were uneasy and are opposing the new regulation by the office. Many say that it is illegal and will invade the privacy of the motorist. Whether it is true or not, here is what I think of the RFID program of the LTO.

RFID, according to the article I read, is a short-range wireless communications technology that lets a tagged device emit a weak signal that can be read by a scanner. The tag contains a pre-set amount of information that can be useful in several applications, from inventory management, staff/student identification, asset tracking, mobile payments and the like. An RFID chip usually has a lifespan of several years, and is often inexpensive to produce and acquire (particularly if en masse).

I can not disagree when LTO says that RFID is to give order in the streets in the country if that is really their reason for implementing the program but would it be an assurance that there will be order when the program is implemented? The office is saying that the RFID could solve the problem of traffic, carnapping woes and the like in the country. One question, what if the carnappers will remove and dump the tag of the vehicle? Then the P350 registration fee paid will be wasted.

One more, the device (RFID) is a short-range technology, normally only 10 feet or 3 meters. It will be useless then because it can not monitor the vehicle outside the scanner’s range. By the weak signal of the device how can the scanner monitor the vehicle out of the 10 feet or three meter range? So then the monitoring function of the system will not be maximized.

LTO is also saying that the chip contains information about the vehicle that is why it is easier to check violations, apprehensions and the like, and also easier for vehicle registration. As far as I know, the RFID device is also like the other electronic devices that can be manipulated or hacked. The issue of privacy in this RFID system is very crucial. This can be used to spy on people, if hacked. Though it is not a problem if you do not mind being electronically watched or monitored by strangers.

Another is that, the RFID has only few years lifespan. Motorists have to pay just to get the RFID technology for whose advantage?. It will be another burden to the public utility jitney drivers and taxi drivers. If the RFID will be pursued, the puj drivers will be forced to pay the P350. Actually, the operators will pay for it and then pass the cost on the riding public or worst on the hapless driver.

Does the LTO know how much money a puj driver takes home? or how much an operator gets? My father is a driver and what I am saying here is based on what I have observed and experienced from my 20 years of living. Looking at my father, I know it has been and is very difficult for him to dip into his pocket for money.

The process alone of the franchise registration entails a lot of money. The expense of maintaining the good condition of the vehicle is another problem. These against the very low income from the whole day trips of the vehicle is too small to meet all the regulation fees imposed by the LTO on top the basic cost of living.

I am not saying all of these because I am affected, but I am saying this because more than 4.6 million vehicle owners and their children, their families are most affected.

I just hope that the flaws in the RFID system will be solved by the LTO before it get started. Or the best, LTO will not implement it anymore and just focus to inculcate discipline among drivers disobeying the rules.
Discipline should be practiced and should be imposed strictly instead of arriving into a projects that burden the people.# nordis.net