SCTEX toll rates hiked beginning Oct. 17

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has given its thumbs up on the petitions for toll rate adjustments for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) filed by NLEX Corp.

The petitions were filed by the toll roads operator in 2020 and 2022.

In an advisory, NLEX Corp. said the TRB provisionally approved the new toll fees pursuant to the petitions.

The company said it informed the TRB, in a letter dated October 6, 2023, about its intent to start the collection of the 1st tranche on October 17, 2023.

NLEX Corp. said motorists traveling between Tarlac City to Mabalacat with Class 1, 2, and 3 vehicles will pay an additional P25.00, P50.00, and P75.00, respectively.

In particular, motorists traveling between Mabalacat and Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan with Class 1 vehicles shall pay an additional P40.00, Class 2 P81.00, and Class 3 P121.00.

Meanwhile, those traveling end to end from Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan to Tarlac City will pay an additional P65.00 for Class 1, P131.00 for Class 2, and P196.00 for Class 3.

With these toll rate adjustments, NLEX Corp. said it is expected to operate and maintain the SCTEX in accordance with the required level of service and standards, and will pursue necessary improvements and expansion works that shall redound to the benefit of the tollway users by way of safe, convenient, fast and worthy travel experience at the SCTEX.

The company said the provisionally approved toll fees had undergone thorough and meticulous review by the TRB, and NLEX Corp. had to comply with all the procedures and requirements, including the publication and posting of surety bond, before the Notice to Start Collection was issued on August 16, 2023.

These provisional toll rate adjustments shall still be subject to further review by the TRB pursuant to its existing rules, according to the NLEX Corp.

Additionally, to protect the general welfare, curb the existing inflationary situation and to mitigate the impact to the motoring public, the TRB has ordered the implementation of the provisionally approved toll fees in three tranches over a period of three years, it said. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA Integrated News