Gov't eyeing gradual increase of toll fees – Aquino

President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III said the government is considering only a gradual increase of fees in three toll roads — North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and Skyway — to ease the burden on the public. During a media briefing in Tarlac City on Monday, Aquino said the economic cluster of the Cabinet is now mulling ways to lessen the impact of the hike after the Supreme Court allowed the three toll roads to increase their fees. Aquino said the government is also planning to subsidize the fees to lessen what the public has to pay while at the same time, allowing the government to fulfill its contract with the investors who funded the construction of the roads. "Ang tanong, paano natin ibabalik sa kanila ang capital na hindi sagarang itaas ang ating rates (The question is, how can we return their capital without imposing much higher fees)," he said. "May contractual obligations tayo. Hindi mo puwedeng unilaterally sabihin 'Oops, thank you, nagawa mo na, hindi na namin susundin ang pinagkasunduan natin (We can't just say unilaterally, 'Oops, thank you, you've done your part, we're not going to fulfill what we agreed on')," he said. . Aquino said he is expects the government's economic managers to submit their proposals when he returns from his state visit in Vietnam next week. He will also be attending the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' summit in Vietnam next week. He noted, however, that the new toll rates will be determined by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda earlier said the TRB will meet within the week to determine the new toll rates for the three roads. –VVP, GMANews.TV