New Skyway toll fees to be implemented April 26

MANILA, Philippines—Skyway operator Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC) will defer the implementation of the elevated highway’s new toll rate to Tuesday, April 26, so as not to create confusion among motorists returning from the Lenten holidays.

The toll hike—from a flat rate of P85 to graduated rates of up to P147 for Alabang—to—Makati private motorists—was originally scheduled for April 25, Easter Monday. CMMTC said it moved back the rate hike by one day so that motorists coming home from Holy Week vacations would not be surprised by the new rates.

“They took into consideration that some motorists would be returning to Manila from the provinces…The deferment of rates will be done to avoid confusion and surprises for those who are not yet aware of the new rates,” Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) spokeperson Julius Corpuz said.

Earlier last week, the TRB approved the toll rates for the recently completed section of the Metro Manila Skyway that extends to Sucat and Alabang from Bicutan.

For the Skyway’s elevated portion, class 1 vehicles (cars and jeepneys) will have to pay P65 from Makati to Bicutan, another P41 to get to Sucat and an additional P41 all the way to Alabang, for a total of P147.

On the Skyway’s ground level, class 1 vehicles will pay P44 from Magallanes to Bicutan, plus P31 to Bicutan, and another P31 to Alabang for a total of P106.

The rates are multiplied by two for class 2 vehicles (light trucks and buses) and by three for class 3 vehicles (heavy trucks).

The rates for the Skyway replace the current “open system” used in the elevated portion, wherein class 1 vehicles paid a flat rate of P85 for the entire length of the road. The extension of the Skyway all the way to Alabang was opened earlier this month.

The rates approved by the TRB are lower by 13 percent than the rates proposed by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., which operates the Skyway.

Motorists that drive straight to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), which starts where the Skyway ends in Alabang, will have to pay toll all the way to Calamba, Laguna.

SLEx toll from Alabang to Calamba is P82 for class 1, P172 for class 2 and P258 for class 3 vehicles.

Meanwhile, the TRB also approved new toll rates for the extension of the Manila-Cavite Expressway Project, commonly known as the Coastal Road.

The TRB said the new R-1 extension of the Coastal Road, from Zapote, Las Piñas, to Kawit, Cavite, will change a toll of P58 for class 1, P116 for class 2 and P174 for class 3 vehicles. The new toll at Coastal Road will start on May 1.

The TRB said groups may file petitions to have the rates reviewed within a period of 90 days from the date of publication of the notices.—Paolo G. Montecillo