By Myris Lee
Motorists will start paying higher toll fees at the Manila-Cavitex (CAVITEX) toll and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) starting Sunday, May 22, the Toll and Regulatory Board (TRB) said Saturday, May 21.
TRB Spokesperson Julius Corpuz said the toll hike was supposed to be implemented last May 12 but was deferred to give public utility vehicles (PUV) the chance to avail of the toll reprieve program using radio-frequency identification (RFID).
“Sa pakikipag-ugnayan po ng ating tanggapan sa pamumuno ng aming kalihim na si Secretary [Arthur] Tugade ay dinefer po muna ‘yan upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga public utility vehicles na mag-avail ng tinatawag na abatement or discount and rebate,” Corpuz said during the Laging Handa briefing.
The program aims to aid the public utility jeepneys (PUJs) wherein they can still pay the old rate for 30 days and avail of a 75% discount during the second month, and a 50% discount on the third.
According to Corpuz, the new NLEX toll fee matrix for motorists traveling anywhere within the open system from Balintawak to Marilao, Bulacan will pay an additional P2 for Class 1 vehicles (cars and sport utility vehicles), P6 for Class 2 vehicles (minivans and buses), and P8 for Class 3 vehicles (large trucks and trailers) while those who travel between Metro Manila and Mabalacat City will pay an additional P27 for Class 1, P69 for Class 2, and P82 for Class 3 vehicles.
The new toll rates for Motorists in CAVITEX R-1 will pay an additional P8 for Class 1, P17 for Class 2 and P25 for Class 3 vehicles.
Corpuz said the toll adjustment is based on the petition of investors and toll concessionaires in 2016 that underwent a study before it was implemented despite the continuous oil price hike.
“2016 pa na dapat ay pinatupad noong 2017, eh 2022 na ho ngayon. So, hindi ho nangangahulugan na automatic iyong kanilang increase. Dumadaan po iyan sa tamang proseso at masusing pag-aaral po ang ginagawa ng ating tanggapan bago man lang sila bigyan ng approval ng ating pamunuan upang makapag-umento ng toll fee adjustment,” Corpuz explained.
Corpuz explained that the toll rate increase is necessary for the expansion and improvement of the expressways. – gb
