SCTEX toll hike pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Motorists can possibly expect a toll hike at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) early next year.

This, as yesterday’s public hearing of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on the application of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for a 43 percent toll increase went smoothly with no parties opposing it.

Julius Corpuz, TRB spokesman, clarified though that the absence of any protesters in the hearing does not automatically mean that the board has approved the BCDA’s toll hike petition.

“The board will deliberate on the matter very soon. We will know how much and when the toll hike will be after their deliberations,” Corpuz told The STAR.

Depending on the outcome of the deliberations, Corpus said the TRB may grant the 43 percent hike or lower it.

With the petitioned 43 percent hike, the current SCTEX toll rate of P2 per kilometer will increase to P2.87. For Class 1 vehicles cruising the entire stretch of the SCTEX from Subic to La Paz, Tarlac, this means an increase from the present P188 to more than P269.

Robert Gervacio, BCDA spokesman, argued that the toll hike was necessary to enable the agency to properly operate and manage the tollway.