Gatchalian wants SLEX toll rate slashed or suspended amid traffic jams

Another senator on Monday recommended to reduce or suspend toll rates at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) amid the traffic problem caused by the ongoing construction of the Skyway extension project.

The daily gridlock is a result of lack of planning by the companies and government agencies involved, according to the senator, saying that mitigating measures should have been in place as the construction works would affect thousands of commuters and motorists.

“Para mabigyan naman ng kaunting relief ang mga kababayan natin, I do recommend na i-slash or i-suspend muna ang toll rates dahil sila ang nag-construct, sila rin ang nakaperwisyo,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian told reporters.

He cited the importance of planning in such an undertaking.

“This is when planning plays a very important role dahil dapat i-anticipate na ang volume ng sasakyan. Nagtataka ako bakit hindi na-anticipate. Alam na natin na from south papuntang Metro Manila, ang daming sasakyan so bakit hindi gumawa ng mitigating measures para hindi maperwisyo ang mga kababayan natin,” he said.

A complaint can be filed before the Toll Regulatory Board to address the issue even if the TRB can conduct investigate the situation motu propio.

“TRB can also call for a hearing. In fact, dapat ang TRB ay minomonitor itong situation dahil ang lahat ng construction ay dumadaan sa kanila. They should call for a hearing and then analyze kung dapat bigyan ng relief ang ating motorists,” he said.

“TRB is the regulator so they can investigate motu proprio,” he added.

Last week, Senator Grace Poe also called for a toll rate cut.

“Motorists deserve to pay less for the trouble the gridlock is causing due to the extension project. Sa mala-prusisyong usad ng trapiko dahil dito, masama bang hilinging kaltasan ang toll sa mga motorista?” she said in a statement.

The Skyway extension works prompted the closure of SLEX lane 3—causing further congestion on the expressway.

The 6-kilometer extension of the Skyway from Barangay Cupang to Susana Heights in Muntinlupa City, is scheduled to be completed by December 2020.

Stakeholders have been calling for fast tracking the construction works and to ease the traffic situation, as zipper lanes failed to relieve the gridlock.

“Again, our aggressive target to complete Phase 1 is by December next year,” Manuel Bonoan, president of private operator Skyway O&M Corp., said last week.

“There are possible causes of delay: right-of-way issues, moving of pipelines, power lines, and the like. However, with the leadership and full support of government, we’re confident we can still fast-track and complete it in a relatively shorter period of time,” he said. —VDS, GMA News