MANILA, Philippines – And it couldn’t come a moment too soon. For over a year now, motorists in the south have felt like they were in the choke hold of a UFC fighter, strangled by the congestion caused by the construction of stage 2 of the Skyway. Come next week though, the bell should ring and they will be able to breathe again. If only slightly.
Last November 11, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC) officially announced the upcoming opening of the Bicutan to Sucat portion of the Skyway, a full month ahead of its December 2010 schedule. “It’s like an early Christmas gift!” one BF Homes resident screamed in delight. “For real?” Ford Alabang’s Paolo Borromeo says in disbelief. “It’s like a dream,” another resident from Alabang Hills Village exclaimed.
And perhaps it is. As much as the road is finished, and CMMTC has no plans of charging extra for the new 3.5 kilometer elevated portion, it is requesting for the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to lift the 23.5% discount that it extended to motorists last year while construction was ongoing, and return to its normal rate of P85 for class 1 vehicles.
As of this writing, CMMTC is still waiting for approval and is already looking at a mid December opening.
Considering that the advantages that the new toll road section brings will immediately be felt during the month of December, when Skyway traffic traditionally reaches its highest level of vehicular volume, we can only hope that the TRB can decide quickly.