Toll board approves upward fee adjustments for Cavitex

Motorists traversing the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) will soon have to pay higher fees following the Toll Regulatory Board's (TRB) approval of two rate adjustments, its operator announced Monday.

In a regulatory filing submitted by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) group legal counsel Ricardo III Pilares, the company said the TRB approved two upward adjustments.

The first adjustment will cover the R-1 Expressway covering Seaside to Zapote:

• Class I vehicles or ordinary cars will pay an additional P1.00;
• Class II vehicles or buses and small commercial trucks will pay an additional P2.00; and
• Class III vehicles will pay an additional P3.00.

"The new toll increase will be collected upon the issuance of the TRB of a Notice to Start Collection," the filing read.

According to the MPIC, the petition for toll rate adjustments was submitted by its unit Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), joint venture partners in the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP).

"The additional toll rates shall be added on to the toll rates authorized as of 2009," it said.

MPIC said the add-on toll rates will cover the enhancement of the R-1 expressway, including the expansion of one lane in both directions, covering the carriageways from 2x3 lanes to 2x4 lanes, or a total of 5.20 kilometers along each direction.

"This enhancement will address the motorists' demands and resolve the congestion problem along this portion of the MCTEP," said MPIC.

"The add-on toll rates will help ensure the sustainability and viability of the MCTEP and the comfort and safety of motorists and other users of the MCTEP and all the toll facilities found therein," it added.

MPIC said the TRB also approved the initial toll for the first 2.2 kilometers of the Segment 3A-1 portion of the C-5 Link Expressway, which is also part of Cavitex.

"The initial toll will be collected upon the issuance of the TRB of a Notice to Start Collection," it added.

Under the approval, motorists traversing Segment 3A-1 shall pay the following amounts based on the new toll fee matrix:

• Class I vehicles or ordinary cars will pay P22.00;
• Class II vehicles or buses and small commercial trucks will pay P44.00; and
• Class III vehicles or large trucks/trailers will pay P66.00.

"Given the provisional nature of the initial toll rate, the approval granted by the TRB is valid initially for a period of six (6) months from the date of the start of actual collection," said MPIC.

Segment 3A-1 is approximately 2.2 kilometers, and is comprised of a 2x3 lane toll road that runs from C-5 Road in Taguig westward to Merville, Paranaque. It includes the flyover crossing the South Luzon Expressway.

"Segment 3A-1 will alleviate congestion and enable motorists to easily travel form Merville, Paranaque to Taguig and vice-Versa," said MPIC.

"It will decongest Sales Road, as well as the East and West Service Roads, effectively delivering an immediate relief from traffic congestion," it added.

According to MPIC, the collection of the fees will ensure the "progressive" construction of the remaining segments of the C-5 Link Expressway. — BM, GMA News