NLEX, SCTEX single toll fee system open for Holy Week exodus

 

The single payment system is supposed to avoid what happened during the Christmas holidays, when motorist had to endure bottlenecks at toll plazas and with no less than Senate President Franklin Drilon complaining about his 11-hour trip to Baguio.

“We are giving you a foretaste of the integration of toll payments. This is particularly true for motorists using NLEX and SCTEX, whether northbound, southbound or both,” an advisory posted on the Facebook page of NLEX said.
 

Heavy traffic is again expected on the toll roads starting Wednesday. 

 

Motorists will now pay their toll fees at SCTEX Mabalacat exit instead of NLEX Dau plaza toll.

 

"Mababawasan na po ng isang stopping point. Hindi na kailangan huminto ng mga motorista doon sa Dau, kasi nga ang susunod na transaction ay doon na sa Mabalacat SCTEX," Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) spokesperson Kiko Dagohoy said in the report.

 

MNTC is the operator of SCTEX, while Tollways Management Corp. (TMC) is in charge of NLEX. Both companies are subsidiaries of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., a part of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

For northbound traffic from April 1 to 2, the NLEX advisory stated that all manual lanes at the Dau exit toll plaza will serve as pass through lanes and no transit tickets will be given while Easytrip lanes will remain as dedicated ones.

It also said that payment stubs will be given to motorists with Easytrip transactions to serve as receipts.

Temporary booths are also set up at Dau and Sta. Ines interchanges to collect toll from exiting NLEX motorists while 20 temporary tollbooths are installed as additional payment points at Mabalacat entry toll plaza where the combined NLEX and SCTEX tolls of Tarlac and Subic-bound motorists will be collected.
The motorists should surrender the payment stubs they obtained from Mabalacat or express cards bought from gas states at the Tarlac toll plaza or Tipo toll plaza.

For southbound traffic from April 4 to 5, 15 temporary tollbooths are installed at Bocaue toll plaza as additional payment points for cash and express cards.

“These payment processes are still transitory,” the NLEX advisory stated.

 

Express Exit lanes

Last February, MNTC and SCTEX owner Bases Conversion Development Authority signed a P600-million deal to integrate the simplified toll collection system for both NLEX and SCTEX. 

 

TMC is also deploying ambulant tellers at the Balintawak and Mindanao Ave. tollgates and open Segment 9 in Karuhatan, Valenzuela, according to the report.

 

Express Exit Card lanes for class 1 motorists will open staring 7 a.m. of April 1 and 2 for northbound cars, while the southbound exit will be opened on April 4 and 5.

 

"Mas mabilis kasi surrender na lang – instead of, kung magbabayad pa ng cash tapos susuklian pa," TMC traffic management and safety head Ruben Ignacio said.

 

Express exit cards, which offer a 5-percent discount on toll fees, can obtained by motorists from any gas station along NLEX.

• NLEX to SCTEX Subic – P363 or P345 if discounted

• NLEX to SCTEX Tarlac – P277 or P264 if discounted

• NLEX Dau to Bocaue – P218 or 208 if discounted.

• free towing service for Class One vehicles

• mechanic service

• first aid service.

– Danessa O. Rivera/VS/NB, GMA News