TRB okays toll hike in ManilaCavite

MOTORISTS traversing the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP) will have to shell out more as regulators approved Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.’s (MPTC) request to increase its toll rate.

In a disclosure, its parent Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said on Monday the Toll Regulatory Board ( TRB) has given a go signal to hike the toll rate for the first 2.2 kilometers (km) of the Segment 3A-1 portion of the C-5 Link Expressway and for the R-1 Expressway, both of which are part of the MCTEP.

However, MPTC still needs to secure the notice to start collection from the TRB.

For the R-1 Expressway — from seaside, Pasay City to Zapote, Cavite — motorists will have to pay an additional P1 for Class 1 vehicles or ordinary cars, P2 for Class 2 cars or buses and small commercial trucks, and P3 for Class 3 vehicles or large trucks and trailers.

“These add-on toll rates are intended to cover the enhancement of the R-1 Expressway, which include the widening of R-1 Expressway with an addition of one lane in both directions, converting the carriageways from 2x3 lanes to 2x4 lanes, or a total of 5.20 kilometers (km) along each direction, as well as the construction of the Marina Bay flyover and left-turning lanes,” MPIC said in the filing.

“This enhancement will address the motorists demands and resolve the congestion problem along this portion of the MCTEP,” it added.

Based on its initial toll fee matrix, motorists plying the Segment 3A-1, meanwhile, will have to pay P22 for Class 1 vehicles, P44 for Class 2 and P66 for Class 3 vehicles.

The 2.2-km road starting from Merville in Parañaque to Taguig was opened to the motoring public last July. It is expected to ease traffic woes on Sales Road in Pasay City, as well as East and West Service roads.

Shares in MPIC inched 11 centavos or 2.22 percent to close at P5.06 apiece on Monday.