Skyway toll increases assailed

Metro motorists will face the New Year with another burden, "sky-high" toll increases at the Skyway System effective Jan. 1, opposition Sen. Tessie Aquino Oreta said yesterday.

She assailed the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), operator of the Skyway System, for imposing these new rates on the public at the same time that it is also slapping a 29-percent increase in toll charges at the North and South Luzon expressways.

"These simultaneous toll rate increases by the PNCC at the tail-end of the Christmas season show that this agency is far worse than oil company giants that effected paltry fuel price cuts last week as their supposed Yuletide gifts to the public," Oreta said.

The new provisional toll rates for the elevated Skyway are P65 for class 1 vehicles, P130 for Class 2, and P195 for Class 3.

On the at-grade portion from Magallanes to Bicutan,, the new toll rates are P15 for Class 1 vehicles, P30 for Class 2, and P45 for Class 3.

From Bicutan to Sucat and from Sucat to Alabang, the PNCC will charge P9 for Class 1 vehicles, P18 for Class 2, and P27 for Class 3.

"What is worse is that these provisional toll rates will again be jacked up on July 1," Oreta said.

Earlier, Oreta expressed concern that the toll hike at the North and South Luzon tollways might lead to higher prices of grains, fruits and vegetables from the food-producing areas of Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, traffic flow has improved.

According to the MMDA, the average speed of vehicles has improved from 12.78 kilometers per hour (kph) last September to 13.84 kph in October.

MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. attributed the improvement to more traffic enforcers along major thoroughfares. The MMDA hired 500 new traffic enforcers to replace the former Metro Aides who directed traffic in the metropolis.

At present, 410 of the 500 are already in the field while 90 others are undergoing training.

To complement the MMDA, the Philippine National Police (PNP) also increased its traffic enforcement personnel.

From 703 PNP traffic operatives, there are now 1,800 deployed all over the metropolis.

The MMDA and PNP have agreed to unify all traffic teams under one commander, Senior Superintendent Luisito Maralit of the PNP-Traffic Enforcement Group. – Efren Danao, Marvin Sy