CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is not planning any toll increase at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) amid its pending “toll operating agreement” with the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for its takeover of the 94-kilometer tollway.
In an interview with The STAR, MPTC president and chief executive officer Ramon Fernandez said the firm’s immediate plan is to link more smoothly the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to the SCTEX by removing three toll gates along the two expressways so that only the toll gates in Balintawak, Quezon City and Subic Freeport would remain for motorists using the entire stretch.
The MPTC is the concessionaire of the NLEX, which is operated by the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC).
Fernandez did not say when the takeover would be. He also did not reveal whether the current toll rates at NLEX would apply for the entire stretch between Balintawak and Subic, as the rates at the two tollways differ at present.
Asked about the petition filed by the BCDA for a toll increase at the SCTEX, Fernandez said the MPTC had nothing to do with it.
Earlier, Sen. Ralph Recto questioned the timing of BCDA’s toll hike petition pending the takeover of MPTC.
“Is the promise of a higher toll a welcome gift for the private operator?” Recto asked.
“The timing is suspect and patently ill-timed. BCDA is seeking a toll hike while it is in the middle of privatizing the operation and maintenance of SCTEX,” he added.
In his speech before members of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry here the other day, Fernandez said that by Holy Week next year, only the toll plazas in Balintawak and Subic Freeport will remain along the main route of a linked NLEX and SCTEX, apart from the toll booths at interchanges.
At present, he said motorists traversing the entire route have to pass through three other toll gates in Angeles City and Mabalacat in Pampanga and another in Subic, Zambales.
“Since we will operate the entire stretch of the NLEX and SCTEX, we can do away with toll payments between the two end points,” he said.
Fernandez also bared plans to create more service facilities along the SCTEX.
“The problem with SCTEX is that if you need to go to the toilet, you have to wait because there is no toilet on the entire stretch,” he said, noting that such facilities are adequate along the NLEX.
Fernandez said electronic facilities at the SCTEX could not yet be installed because of the significant cost it would require.
“At present, an average of only 25,000 motorists use the SCTEX daily, as against 165,000 motorists at the NLEX,” he said.