Skyway toll increase takes effect Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, 2007, toll fees on the at-grade section of the Skyway System Project from Magallanes to Alabang will increase to P5 per section for Class 1 vehicles.

Toll Regulatory Board spokesman Julius Corpuz said the adjusted toll fees for Class 1 vehicles that include cars, jeeps, pickups and passenger vans, will be at P30 for the Magallanes-Bicutan section, P18 for the Bicutan-Sucat section and P17 for Sucat-Alabang-Filinvest section.

Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles will be charged twice and thrice, respectively, that of Class 1 vehicles.

Corpuz explained that the increase is the lowest set of adjustments ever approved by the government for the Skyway System.

He said the toll fees remain unchanged for the elevated or Skyway section.

"We hope this will encourage more motorists to use the elevated section. This would result in faster travel time for those using the at-grade or ground level section," Corpuz added.

Toll fees are adjusted every two years in accordance with the Supplementary Toll Operations Agreement which is the contract for the Skyway System Project.

Periodic toll fee adjustments allow the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) Skyway firm to cope with the increasing cost of operations and maintenance, and for the Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corp. to recover from the development and construction of the project. — Rhodina Villanueva