MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is eyeing to revive the botched radio frequency identification (RFID) project of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) this year, but only for public utility vehicles (PUVs).

LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob said a composite team of LTFRB and Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) officials is studying what type of RFID technology that will be fit for PUV use.

“We are only deliberating which type we will prefer, from sticker-type to gadget type, before we finally bid the project out. What is important for us is the assurance that the technology is tamper-proof and durable,” Jacob said.

He said reviving the RFID project, which was first launched by the LTO to identify private and public vehicles but was stopped by the Supreme Court after finding out that the project was awarded to Stradcom Corporation without public bidding, will be one of LTFRB’s solutions for curb the operation of colorum vehicles – those plying out of authorized routes or operating without franchise.

The RFID program is a technology which uses radio frequency to identify objects such as a vehicle without human intervention. It has seen used to control traffic volume, toll payment and motor vehicle registration in other countries.

Through this technology, authorities can immediately identify if a PUV is colorum and enforcers can immediately apprehend and impound them.

“This will be an effective anti-colorum project for the LTFRB in cooperation with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), whose men will be equipped with hand-held RFID readers to aid their apprehension of violators,” he said.

As of press time, the LTO has not yet refunded the P350 payment for RFID made by each of the 90,000 motor vehicle owners since 2010. A total of P31 million was generated from the botched project.

When sought for comment, militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) assailed the government’ renewed interest to revive the botched radio frequency identification (RFID) for public utility vehicles (PUVs).

PISTON president George San Mateo reiterated PUV operators’ and drivers’ position that the RFID project will not curb the operation of colorum units.

San Mateo said what can resolve the perennial problem of illegal PUVs is an honest-to-goodness implementation of laws pertaining on traffic and franchise issuances.

“Resurrecting the RFID project is only a money-making scheme of its proponents and just a waste of money for PUV operators and drivers who will be obliged to comply,” he said.