TRB approves MPTC toll rates for Mla-Cavite expressway

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the toll road unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has secured the regulator’s approval for its proposed provisional toll rate and a toll adjustment for two components of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.

In a disclosure to the local bourse yesterday, MPIC said the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has given the thumbs up to the initial toll for the first 2.2 kilometers of the Segment 3A-1 portion of the C-5 Link Expressway, which forms part of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP).

Under the approved rates, motorists traversing Segment 3A-1 will pay P22 for Class 1 vehicles (ordinary cars), P44 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small commercial trucks), and P66 for Class 3 vehicles (large trucks/trailers).

Segment 3A-1, which was opened last July, is approximately 2.2 kilometers and is comprised of a 2x3 lane toll road that runs from C-5 Road in Taguig westward to Merville, Paranaque. It includes the flyover crossing the South Luzon Expressway.

“The collection of the provisional or interim initial toll fee for Segment 3A-1 will ensure the continued progressive construction of the remaining segments of the C-5 Link Expressway, towards completion of the expansion of the MCTEP toll road system as one integral system interconnecting various destinations within its geographical coverage,” MPIC said.

Likewise, MPIC said the TRB has approved the add-on toll rate for Phase 1 of the R-1 Enhancement Project on Segment 1 (R-1 Expressway) of the MCTEP.

The approval means that motorists traversing the R-1 Expressway from Seaside to Zapote will pay additional P1 for Class 1 vehicles, P2 for Class 2 vehicles. and P3 for Class 3 vehicles to the existing toll rates authorized as of 2009.

MPIC said the add-on toll rates are intended to cover the enhancement of the R-1 Expressway, which include the widening of R-1 Expressway with an addition of one lane in both directions, converting the carriageways from 2x3 lanes to 2x4 lanes, as well as the construction of the Marina Bay flyover and left-turning lanes.

“This enhancement will address the motorists demands and resolve the congestion problem along this portion of the MCTEP. The add-on toll rates will help ensure the sustainability and viability of the MCTEP and the comfort and safety of motorists and other users of the MCTEP and all the toll facilities found therein,” it said.

MPIC said the new toll increase for the R-1 Expressway and the initial toll rate for the Segment 3A-1 would be collected upon the issuance of the TRB of a notice to start collection.

For the initial toll rate on Segment 3A1, MPIC said the approval granted by the TRB is valid initially for a period of six months from the date of the start of actual collection given its provisional nature.

MPTC unit Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and the Philippine Reclamation Authority are joint venture partners in MCTEP.

They filed a joint petition for the initial toll rate of the Segment 3A-1 last July 4, while separate petitions for toll rate adjustments for the R-1 Expressway were file on Oct. 12 last year.