South Expressway toll collection starts Feb 10
SANTA ROSA, Laguna: MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), has secured Toll Regulatory Board approval for toll collection for the 10.7-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) subsections 6, 7 and 8 effective February 10.
Calax will collect value-added tax inclusive rates of P47 for class 1 vehicles ( ordinary cars), P95 for class 2 vehicles ( buses and small commercial trucks) and P143 for class 3 vehicles (large trucks or trailers).
“The end- to- end opening of Calax subsections 6, 7 and 8 is imperative to reduce traffic congestion in various parts of Laguna specifically Laguna Boulevard and Aguinaldo Highway. It is a viable option for motorists given the growing traffic demands in the area,” MPCala Holdings Inc. president and general manager Roberto Bontia said.
“The implementation of the initial base toll rates is necessary to ensure the sustainability and viability of the expressway as a safe and convenient thoroughfare. On our end, our services shall live up to the highest standard for our motorists to experience the convenience of traveling South using Calax,” he added.
The first 10.7-km have served about 10,000 vehicles daily between South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) Mamplasan Exit and the new Calax Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange in the first three months of its toll-free operations. Partial operations started October 30 in time for All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day.
The 45-km Calax is a 2x2 lane expressway that will soon connect the Cavite Expresway (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite to SLEx at Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. Calax has 10 interchanges — Kawit, Open Canal, ProFriends, Governor’s Drive, Silang, Silang East, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, Technopark and Mamplasan.
Aside from the Calax and Cavitex network of toll roads, MPTC’s domestic portfolio includes the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway, the NLEx Connector Road, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway) in Cebu.