Govt mulls gradual increase of toll rates

The government is considering a gradual increase in toll rates in the two major Luzon expressways as one of the options to ease the impact of the toll hikes to the riding public, Malacañang said Monday. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said this option, along with several others that he did not disclose, will be discussed when President Benigno Aquino III meets with the Cabinet’s economic cluster on Thursday. Lacierda said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus are "on top of the situation." "They’ll be providing options for us and one of the options is a graduated increase in the rates," Lacierda said at a press briefing. "While we would like to honor our contractual obligations, we would like to also make sure that we will alleviate or ease the burden on the public," he added.

Last October, the Supreme Court allowed the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to increase their fees. The increases took effect January 1, 2011. Along SLEX, “discounted" toll increases were implemented, meaning Class 1 vehicles (cars and jeepneys) traveling from Alabang to Calamba will pay P76 while Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and small buses) will be charged P152. Class 3 vehicles (trucks and buses), meanwhile, will pay P228. The full rates are expected to take effect in April 2011. Along NLEX, an 11-percent—or P2.38 per kilometer—toll adjustment has been implemented. Transport organizations had slammed the toll increases as anti-poor. Lacierda on Monday said the graduated toll hike increase may also apply to MRT rates, which may increase if the government's plan to reduce the subsidy for the MRT pushes through.- Jam L. Sisante/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV