Plan to hike toll fees hits speed bump

The proposal to hike toll rates at three expressways in Luzon has hit a speed bump, with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) warning that adjustments in fees may be delayed.

Operators of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project (Cavitex) and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star Toll) all want to raise motorist fees by the start of the new year.

But militant groups are opposing the adjustments amid recent increases in the prices of basic commodities like food and fuel, which have taken their toll on consumers.

According to its rules, the TRB needs to publish in newspapers the notices regarding the approved adjustment in rates three times in as many weeks. If this schedule is to be followed, the latest that the TRB is allowed to publish notices will be on the second week or third week of December.

The last notice may be published on the first week of January—the same week the adjustments are supposed to be implemented.

“The last two weeks of December is sufficient, but it will be tight,” Corpuz said. At Tuesday’s hearing, Corpuz said lawyer Ernesto Francisco questioned the procedural rules being used by the TRB to process the applications.

“Since this is a fundamental issue, the TRB instructed … oppositors to submit comments or positions on the matter by Monday next week,” Corpuz said.

Operators have petitioned the TRB to allow them to increase toll at the SCTEx by 19 percent, at Cavitex by 17 percent, and Start Toll by 7 percent.