TRB mulls other options on toll fees

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) is considering other options for expressway operators aside from raising fees for the pending toll rate hike petitions.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson told reporters in a chance interview the government is looking at other options apart from increasing toll road tariffs.

The DPWH has a representative on the TRB.

Among the options being considered is to make direct payments to the toll road concessionaire from the national government’s budget.

“One is we pay what was made directly, which means it will not impact on the tariff but will be handled by the national government,” Singson said.

Another option, he said, is to extend the concession period for the toll road.

TRB executive director Edmundo Reyes, Jr. said the options are still being studied by the board.

“There are options available so we have to study. The most important (thing) is (there is) legal basis (for the decision),” he said.

He said the TRB hopes to have the decision out as soon as possible.

Last year, the operators and concessionaires of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Manila-Cavite toll expressway ( Cavitex), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) filed petitions for toll in- creases starting January this year.

Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) for instance, sought for an average of 15 percent toll increase for NLEX, while Cavite Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) petitioned for a 25 percent hike for Cavitex.

MNTC and CIC are both units of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Meanwhile, South Luzon Tollway Corp./Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc. asked for a 33 percent hike for SLEX, while STAR Infrastructure Development Corp. wanted a 16 percent toll increase for STAR toll rates.

Operators of SLEX and STAR have decided to drop their petitions, while MNTC and CIC’s are pending.