Free toll on SMC expressways on Christmas, New Year’s Eve

NORTHERN WAY The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway cuts travel time to and from northern Luzon. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — All toll fees in San Miguel Corporation’s expressways will be free of charge on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the conglomerate said Friday.

According to the SMC in a statement, waiving the toll fees at expressways it operates on the two biggest holidays of the year would “make holiday travel smoother for motorists.”

Toll fees across SMC’s expressways, particularly the Skyway System, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway (NaiaX), South Luzon Expressway (Slex), STAR Tollway, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPlex) — will be waived from 10 p.m. on December 24 to 6 a.m. on December 25, and again from 10 p.m. on December 31 to 6 a.m. on January 1, 2025.

READ: LTO intensifies road monitoring to ease Christmas traffic

“This is our way of saying thank you to everyone who uses the expressways we operate. It’s something we look forward to every year because it helps thousands of motorists get home to their families a little easier, especially during Christmas and New Year,” SMC Chairman Ramon S. Ang said.

Preparations

Meanwhile, Ang, in the same statement, said the SMC has also already laid out “operational initiatives” ensuring the safety of motorists along its tollways.

Patrollers and security personnel are set to be deployed in critical areas. Emergency response personnel will also be placed on alert starting Dec. 20, with traffic monitoring centers at each of the expressways staffed round-the-clock to keep watch over the flow of vehicle traffic.

Roadworks affecting traffic flow will also be suspended, starting December 20 until January 3, 2025.

SMC said it also stepped up its coordination with the traffic management offices of local government units, to minimize traffic bottlenecks in their jurisdictions.

Tow trucks and other emergency vehicles have also been pre-positioned to respond to accidents and incidents quickly.

SMC then appealed to motorists to be patient when faced with heavy traffic around Metro Manila, advising them to plan their trips ahead, and reminding motorists to ensure they have enough load in their Autosweep RFID accounts, to prevent delays at exits.

But for those who have yet to register their vehicles, the company encourages motorists to sign up for Autosweep RFID, which is free of charge. Loading Autosweep RFID accounts is quick and convenient through electronic payment systems, online banking, e-wallets, or by visiting Autosweep customer service centers and kiosks located across the expressway network.

For road emergencies, motorists can contact the following hotlines for assistance:

• Skyway System and NaiaX (02-53188655 or 0917-5398762)
• Slex (049-5087539 or 0917-6877539)
• STAR Tollway (043-7567870 or 0917-5117827)
• TPlex (0917-8880715)