‘People power’ looms vs Skyway

Residents of Southern Metro Manila may soon stage their own "people power" against the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Skyway’s sky-high toll rates.

Ray Junia, president of consumer activist group Movement for Responsible Enterprise (MORE) urged residents and motorists using the Skyway system to unite and make their sentiments against the new round of toll rate increase known to the government.

"By our assessment, our chances of losing this battle in court is high. So, we decided to bring the court to the streets," Junia said.

The new round of toll increase was supposed to have taken effect last Monday. But President Arroyo asked Skyway manager, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC), to suspend the increase until July 16 to give way for a more extensive information cam-paign about the increase.

For his part, Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon welcomed the move of the residents. "It’s good that they are now taking concrete action," he said.

Biazon said he wrote the President in March, requesting the suspension of the increase, pending the public hearing being conducted by the House Committee on Transportation and Communications. — Nikko Dizon