MMDA Emergency Vehicles to be Fitted with RFIDs for NLEX, Cavitex

Emergency vehicles of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker tags for emergency vehicles' fast entry to major toll plazas in the south and the north. 

This as MMDA and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)  recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the installation of RFID sticker tags to 100 government and emergency vehicles that pass through major toll roads managed and operated by the MPTC.

Under the partnership, the MPTC will attach RFID sticker tags to emergency vehicles bearing an initial load of P500.

Registered government and emergency vehicles responding to fire, flood and other disasters, can enter and exit through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) toll areas in the north and Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) in the south without stopping for payment.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim expressed gratefulness to the MPTC, citing that the partnership would help the agency in delivering immediate metro-wide services to the 17 local government units of Metro Manila.

Cities that can be easily accessed via Cavitex are Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Las Piñas while NLEX covers the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela.

"With the RFID stickers, our emergency vehicles can pass through gates without rolling windows down and pay for a ticket manually," said Lim, during the MOA signing held at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.

For his part, MPTC President Rodrigo Franco said the MPTC supports the government's mandate to provide quick and efficient public service.

"With this partnership with MMDA, we can help the agency respond faster during times of natural disasters," said Franco.

EasyDrive (powered by EasyTrip) is the country's first RFID sticker tag used for toll payment instead of manual cash payment.

It uses the latest RFID technology in paper-thin battery-less sticker form that contains a chip and antenna attached to a vehicle's windshield or headlamp, and can be used at EasyDrive-dedicated or mix toll lanes at Cavitex.

EasyDrive eliminates queuing at toll plazas as vehicles go through the lanes without stopping for payment.