Toll hikes to take effect at 'discounted' rate Jan 1, full rates in April

After weeks of speculation, toll hikes at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) will push through on January 1, although with a slight discount at first. Radio dzBB on Saturday quoted the Toll Regulatory Board as saying the full rates adjustment will take effect only in April 2011. The Supreme Court (SC) gave the green light for the adjustments last October, saying the contracts that allowed the toll hikes were legal. Operators of the SLEX had said they needed the toll hikes to maintain the roads. Rates for Class 1 vehicles including jeepneys, pickups, vans and cars will go up to P3.03 per km from 76 centavos. Because of this, motorists will have to pay P86 from the current P22 for the Alabang-Calamba stretch. Rates for Class 2 vehicles such as buses will be P6.06/kilometer from P1.52, thus the Alabang to Calamba charge will rise to P172 from P42.86. Class 3 rates for trucks will be P9.09 per kilometer from P2.28, which brings the toll for the stretch of highway to P258 from P64.30. In a separate report, the BusinessWorld said the discounted January rates translate to P76, P152 and P228 for Class 1, 2 and 3 vehicles, respectively, for the Alabang-Calamba portion of the highway. The discount will go down to 30 centavos in February, and 13 centavos in March. The South Luzon Tollway Corp. reportedly spent P12 billion for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alabang to Calamba stretch. Moreover, the BusinessWorld report said additional toll fee hikes can still be expected as the SC still has to rule on the imposition of the 12-percent value-added tax. — LBG, GMANews.TV