Report: Militant drivers picket Alabang interchange over SLEX toll hike

Militant drivers on Monday staged a picket at the Alabang interchange in southern Metro Manila to protest against the toll hike at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Radio dzBB reported that the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) questioned the higher toll rates at the Alabang-Calamba-Sto. Tomas portion of SLEX. The report said PISTON members tried to block public utility vehicle drivers from passing through the Alabang Interchange but failed. The militant drivers also distributed flyers explaining the group's position on the toll hike. According to PISTON members, the SLEX should be "for public service rather" than "for business." Last year, the Supreme Court (SC) gave the SLEX the green light to implement a P3.02-per-kilometer initial increase in SLEX. Only last week, lawyer Ernesto Francisco sought anew to block the toll hike, saying the SC ruling is not yet final and executory and that his appeal remains unresolved. In its ruling penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., the High Court upheld the Toll Regulatory Board’s authority to grant “administrative franchise" for toll facility projects. – VVP, GMANews.TV