Philippine Tollway Fees Increase Effective Next Week

Imposition of the value-added tax (VAT) on tolls will push through next week as scheduled, with users of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) to be hit particularly hard based on adjusted fees approved by regulators.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Saturday detailed new charges for six Luzon tollways. The higher tolls -- which take into account the 12% VAT -- take effect beginning 10 p.m. on August 16, the date that SLEx adjustments approved earlier this year are also set to be imposed.

For users of the highway -- the main route to industrial zones south of Metro Manila -- the two adjustments mean tolls will nearly quadruple.

Here are the list of toll increases: 

The biggest increases will be at the SLEx. In particular, entering Alabang and exiting at Calamba

• Class 1 vehicles -- cars or jeepneys --  will have to pay P85, almost four times more than the current P22. 
• Class 2 vehicles -- light trucks and buses -- will rise to P170 from P43
• Class 3 vehicles -- trailers/large trucks will be P255 instead of P65.

"For SLEx, it is inclusive of the 250% increase approved by TRB sometime in May and the 12% VAT," the agency’s spokesman, Julius G. Corpuz, told BusinessWorld Sunday.

Motorists taking the elevated Skyway -- which connects to the SLEx -- exiting at Filinvest will have to shell out: 

• cars and jeepneys  P112 instead of P100. 
• light trucks/buses will go up to P224 from P200 
• heavy trucks/trailers will be P336 instead of P300.

Skyway rates were last adjusted in July 2009.

At the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) where the last toll hike was in July 2008, entering through Balintawak and exiting at Dau

• cars or jeepneys  will have to pay P195 from P174 previously. 
• The bus/truck rate will be P487, up from P435 
• Large trucks and trailers will be P585 instead of P522.

As for cars and jeepneys using the R-1 (Radial Road 1) Expressway segment of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway, the fee has been adjusted to P25 from P22. The last toll hike for this road took effect January 2009.

Drivers of Class 1 vehicles entering the Sto. Tomas end of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) -- where a toll hike was implemented just last month -- will have to start paying P67 when exiting at Balagtas, Batangas, up from the current P60, while those on Class 2 vehicles will pay P134, up from P120. The Class 3 rate will be P200 instead of P179.

At the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) -- last rate hike, April 2008 -- the new rates for the Tipo to Tarlac stretch are: Class I, P203 from P181; Class 2, P407 from P363; and Class 3, P609 instead of P544.

LRT and MRT will also increase fees. Click to view article.

Source: www.gmanews.tv