Integrate expressways, lawmaker prods DOTC

Manila, Philippines - Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile urged the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) yesterday to integrate all toll expressways for ease of travel and payment of fees.

“Having a seamless integration would allow the use of one single payment system that lessens long lines, delays and irritants especially during peak seasons like Holy Week and summer vacations,” he said.

Enrile said since people pay companies operating toll roads huge fees for using the expressways, “their services should always be consumer-friendly.”

He cited the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Tipo-Subic toll road leading to the Subic Freeport as among the highways that could easily be integrated.

Motorists should pay toll only at one collection point in using these expressways, whether they are traveling to Subic, Tarlac or Metro Manila, he said.

He said at present, people going to Subic from Metro Manila and vice versa pay fees at three separate toll plazas for NLEX, SCTEX and Tipo-Subic even if these roads are interconnected.

If one is coming from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, there is another toll booth there before entering NLEX, he said.

It would be a great convenience for motorists if they stop at only one toll plaza to pay fees for all three expressways, he added.

The fee for the use of NLEX from Balintawak or Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga is P195, while the SCTEX operator charges P150 from Mabalacat to Tipo in Bataan. The Tipo-Subic toll is P20.

Enrile said DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus could easily understand the need to integrate tollways, having headed the company that built and ran NLEX when the concession for the expressway was still held by the Lopez family.

The Lopezes sold the concession to the group of businessman Manuel Pangilinan, which also reportedly runs SCTEX.

Enrile said integration would result in faster travel and less fuel consumption on the part of motorists, and less manpower on the part of toll road operators.

In the south, he said the SLEX, Skyway and STAR toll road in Batangas could also be easily integrated.

At the same time, he urged De Jesus to ensure that all necessary services along expressways like clean toilets, emergency phones and parking areas are available.