The local government of Valenzuela City rejected the request of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) management for a 15-day extension to address the concerns surrounding the RFID installation mess in the city.
“We deny your request for an extension of 15 days within which to respond to the concerns we raised. Your defense that the full RFID implementation only started last December 1 is not justifiable considering that you know beforehand that you will be executing the RFID cashless payment system,” Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in a letter addressed to Luigi Bautista, president, and general manager of NLEX Corporation.
“We find your answer unsatisfactory, wanting, and fell short of concrete action plans, solutions, and fixes,” Gatchalian added.
The mayor said the “monstrous traffic” caused by the glitches on the RFID cashless payment system had affected the economic, mental, and general well-being of the public.
Aside from apologizing and taking full responsibility on the matter, Gatchalian also demanded NLEX Corporation to:
- Offer concessions to the public to make up for the damages done to the general public in the form of toll holiday pending acceptable and full solution to your RFID problem; and
- Lift all your toll boom gates/barriers in your toll plazas within the city’s jurisdiction to alleviate the appalling traffic situation.
Valenzuela gov’t rejects NLEX’s request for deadline extension
Gatchalian warned that “the city government will exercise its full power and authority and issue an executive order for your company to cease and desist from the operation of your business and order for the lifting of all your boom barriers/gates located within the jurisdiction of Valenzuela City” if NLEX would not comply with the LGU’s demands by 5 pm today.
Last week, Gatchalian compared the situation in RFID system on NLEX to ‘highway robbery.’
“Prepaid ang RFID, kinuha na nila yung pera natin, pero pag dadaan ako dun [sa NLEX] hindi ako makadaan. Tumatawag pa ako sa kanila para makadaan at maayos ‘yan. So parang sa opinyon ko nga, parang highway robbery yun eh, literal na highway robbery,” he said.
“Imagine mo prepaid yan, ang dami nating inobliga mag-prepaid, pero walang katumbas na maayos na serbisyo, so technically nalalapastangan na ‘yung consumer rights natin,” he added.