BCDA seeks 87¢/km increase in SCTEX toll

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) is seeking a 43.5-percent hike in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll to P2.87 per kilometer.

In a statement, state-owned agency said it has filed a toll hike before the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for an 87-centavos increase in toll for Class A vehicles from the current P2 per kilometer rate.

SCTEX spokesperson and program manager for operational support services Robert Gervacio said the proposed toll rate adjustment would fund the repayment of the principal and interest of the loan granted by the of Japanese government through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) that will start in 2011. The JBIC loan mainly bankrolled the construction of the SCTEX.

The Toll Operation Agreement (TOA) provides for a toll rate adjustment based on a parametric formula that takes into consideration the following elements: debt service, peso-yen BSP reference rate, operations and maintenance cost, annual growth rate per financial projects, actual annual traffic volume and length of expressway, authorized toll rates per vehicle class, JICA interest, and Department of Finance (DOF) guarantee.

 “The increase is a fair amount that will allow us to fulfill and sustain our obligations to both our creditors and motorists,” the BCDA said. However, the toll rate adjustment is still not final pending TRB review and approval.

At the same time, the BCDA assured that the increase would enable it to sustain the high level of service efficiency at the SCTEX. Motorists using the country’s most modern toll road enjoy the following benefits: savings on time and fuel, less vehicle wear and tear, less spoilage for produce, and stress-free and safe driving. “The increased toll fee will be worth every centavo,” Gervacio added. “The SCTEX is a brand-new expressway designed to facilitate the speedy transfer of people, goods and services in the region.”

When approved, the proposed new toll rate matrix will be implemented starting Jan. 1, 2011. “We believe that our petition is justifiable, but we will abide by the decision of the TRB,” Gervacio said.

Since the opening of the toll roads, additional works have been implemented through the construction of three additional interchanges (Clark South, Porac and Floridablanca) and the Panday Pira access road. The Panday Pira road, which is the access road to and from Clark via the Clark North interchange, was completed on Dec. 23, 2008. The Clark South interchange was completed on April 4, 2009 while the Porac and Floridablanca Interchanges were completed on July 31, 2009.