The 'fleet fueling' system is controlled centrally via a Web-based application called iTag Fuel Track developed by AC Corp., a local company that develops applications using RFID technology.

The keyfobs are equipped with 'passive' or non-battery powered chips than can transmit signals from about two to three centimeters on the 13.56 megahertz frequency. AC Corp. sources its RFID chips from Texas Instruments.

Since the project began early this year, there have been more than a thousand keyfobs issued within the AFP alone, says Ivan Fojas, planning and development manager at AC Corp, which is also doing a similar fleet fueling system for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

AC Corp. previously developed a fuel management system using smart cards (more or less similar to credit cards) for the AFP until it migrated the system to RFID, which offers long-term advantages. Fojas pointed out: 'Because it's basically contact-less, RFID tags are more durable than smart cards.'

Fojas added RFID chips can't be easily cloned unlike smart cards, which are now easily reproduced and loaded with credit card information supplied by hackers.