Motoring Today Column: Interoperability

Dec 16, 2020

Interoperability

Those clamoring to have interoperability between the two radio frequency identification (RFID) cashless toll payment system used at tollways should be happy that tollway operators are fast-tracking efforts to make this happen.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reports that "toll operators and concessionaires signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to jointly test the use of AutoSweep and EasyTrip radio frequency identification (RFID) cashless toll payments for theNorth Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and to determine the Read Rate Percentage."

The MOA was signed by top honchos ofSan Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), NLEX Corp., and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

It calls for AutoSweep RFID stickers to activated using an EasyTrip account, and an EasyTrip RFID sticker activated using an AutoSweep account.

These stickers vehicle will be mounted on 45 vehicles of different classifications.

In a press statement, the DOTr said interoperability testing will be conducted for 14 consecutive days with dashcams recording the proceedings at tollgates.

According to DOTr, the participants in the testing will submit the test transaction reports and dashcam video recordings to a steering committee for validation and assessment.

The steering committee will have five days, from the complete submission of the data collected to determine the read rate percentage or the system's performance indicator when comparing RFID infrastructures.

The DOTr didn't make clear what happens after steering committee reports its findings. But it is hoped that this will bring us to interoperability of the systems.

As it is, vehicle motorists, even those who rarely use tollways, must acquire both RFID accounts and stickers, which has proven to be really a great hassle.

One funny thing to note though. The DOTr said that toll operators had also signed an MOA in which they agreed to "timely, smoothly, and fairly implement the interoperability of the electronic toll collection (ETC) systems" when the Toll Collection Interoperability project was launched in 2017.

TRB Speaks

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) had been noticeably quiet all throughout the weeks when social and traditionally media were rife with reports of chaos and confusion at tollgates at sticker installation site as the day for full cashless tollgate transactions came nearer.

It may or may not be connected, but TRB finally issued a press statement reacting to the people's complaints about the tollway RFID operations after Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian took it upon himself to sanction NLEX for the sufferings of his city that tollway operations are causing.

In the press statement the TRB said it was "poised to impose penalties, even suspend toll collection byToll Operators who continue to violate the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) in the implementation of the cashless/contactless transaction on toll expressways."

The TRB said it was continuously monitoring tollway operarations and have brought the glitches it noticed to the attention of tollway operators for needed corrections.

The case of Valenzula City cancelling mayor's permit of NLEX is "a matter between the City of Valenzuela and the NLEX Operator," said the TRB, adding: "We have been assured that this is being given appropriate attention and hoped to be resolved very soon."

The TRB said it had ordered tollways operators to implement the following: immediate replacement of worn out/defective RFID sensors or readers, equipment and tags or stickers; relocate or reposition rfid installation and reloading lanes that hamper traffic flow; maintain, improve and upgrade systems software; enhance traffic management, and improve customer service assistance.

BMW R18 Arrives

The BMW R18 is now available in the country.

SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp ., official distributor of BMW automobiles and motorcycles, said that with the local launch of the R18, BMW Motorrad has entered the cruiser segment.

The first ever R18 in First Edition trim stands entirely in the tradition of historical BMW motorcycles, both technically and in design, BMW Motorrad said in a press statement.

"The R 18 borrows from famous models such as the BMS R 5, shifting focus back onto the motorcycle essentials: purist, no-frils technology and the boxer engine as the epicenter of riding pleasure."

The R 18 is powered by a 1802cc two-cylinder boxer engine rated at 91 horsepower and 150 Newton-meters of torque.

GEELY-BPI Family Partnership

Geely is closing out the year with offering great savings and very affordable financing plans for its already very competitively priced vehicle lineup.

Geely has partnered with BPI Family Saving Bank on an Exclusive Partner Offer (EPO) promo.

The EPO offers low monthly payments terms for the CoolRay and the Okavango.

Geely also offers savings of up to P130,000 plus many freebies for its customers.

The promo is valid until the last day of the year.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

Archive

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)