Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is currently finalizing the process of reimbursing P31 million worth of fees for the radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers, which were collected from owners of motor vehicles that were registered at the agency earlier this year.

Torres said the LTO has prepared the refund of RFID fees, amounting to P350 per vehicle, following the instruction of Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). The development came at least seven months after the Supreme Court stopped the LTO from implementing the RFID program last January.

The RFID program was introduced by LTO early this year to help track down colorum (illegal) vehicles, smoke-belchers, and carnapped vehicles. Based on LTO records, at least 90,000 car owners paid the RFID fees.

“The reimbursement will be done by regions. All of those who paid for the RFID only need to show their official receipts so they can get their refund,” said Torres.

But Torres failed to disclose when the refund of RFID fees starts, adding that the agency is still coming up with an orderly system for the reimbursement.

Earlier, Torres described the RFID as a project that “remains in escrow,” saying it is an “unnecessary burden” to the public.

Torres said she had pushed to scrap the RFID project and refund the proceeds even before De Jesus agreed to review the suspended RFID project due to complaints by transport groups that the project did not undergo public bidding, and that the previous administration did not secure an approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).