Toll discount for cars with at least 4 passengers urged

MANILA, Philippines - Two Mindanao congressmen have sought a 20-percent toll discount for cars and other vehicles with at least four passengers passing through four expressways in Luzon.

In House Bill 3932, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents the party-list group Abante Mindanao, proposed that the discount be granted to loaded vehicles using the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Metro Manila Skyway, and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The two said the grant of the discount could encourage carpooling, reduce the number of vehicles using these expressways, and lessen air pollution.

Quoting Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, the Rodriguez brothers said motor vehicles are the main source of pollution in Metro Manila, accounting for as much as 80 percent of pollution.

They said tests conducted by Paje’s department showed that the air quality in the metropolis deteriorated in the first half of 2010.

They said thousands of motorists use the four Luzon expressways daily. “The NLEX has an average vehicle volume of 158,000 a day; the SLEX, 160,000; the Metro Manila Skyway, 30,000 for the elevated portion and 120,000 to 150,000 for the ground level; and 20,000 to 30,000 a day at SCTEX,” they added.

They said the discount would also lighten the financial burden on motorists using the expressways, noting that toll rates recently increased from 250 to 350 percent.

At the same time, the Rodriguez brothers urged the authorities to integrate toll roads in North Luzon and South Luzon to facilitate toll collection and to ease travel.

In the north, for instance, the NLEX, SCTEX and the Subic toll road have separate toll collection points. The same is true with SLEX and the STAR toll road in Batangas.

Integrating the North Luzon toll roads would mean there would be only one collection point for fees, they said.