The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) toll surcharge began on Tuesday after the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved the application of the Metro Pacific Tollways operator.
TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz explained that the rate hike is part of the periodic adjustments they approved in 2012 and 2014.
“Ito pong maliit na toll fee increase na ito ay matagal na dapat ipinatupad, noon pang 2013 at 2015, long overdue naman na po ito. Itong malilikom, additional revenues na di naman po ganoon kalakihan ay magagamit naman po nila sa pagpapatuloy ng kanilang obligasyong mapaayos ang operation at maintenance ng expressway,” said Corpuz.
The extra toll on open system or flat rate per entry
- Class 1 vehicles — P2
- Class 2 vehicles — P3
- Class 3 vehicles — P4
Additional toll on end-to-end journey
- Class 1 vehicles — P6
- Class 2 vehicles — P14
- Class 3 vehicles — P16
Metro Pacific Tollways chief communications officer Romulo Quimbo, Jr. said this toll hike is only 2 or 3 percent.
Tolls on NLEX will increase starting Tuesday
He said this is also for the continuation of the construction of NLEX projects.
“[Gagamitin ito sa] pagkumpuni po ng mga damage natin diyan, pagsagawa ng maintenance natin 24/7. ‘Yun pong Candaba viaduct ginagawa po itong future-proof. ‘Yung expansion po natin tuloy-tuloy,” said Quimbo.
According to the Toll Regulatory Board, the surcharge should have been implemented a long time ago but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase was gradual, and TRB added that the additional charge was not large.
Meanwhile, the reaction of motorists was divided.
Some were disappointed because of why it was still increasing when there was a pandemic.
Others said that nothing could be done and that the NLEX service would have been better.
This is not the end of it, as there will be more surcharges next year, but it is not yet certain how much the toll will be raised.
According to NLEX, the surcharge will benefit motorists, as they have projects such as the NLEX and SLEX connector road and the harbor link.
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