Poe calls for toll rate cut amid SLEX traffic jams

Senator Grace Poe on Friday urged authorities to reduce the toll rate at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) amid traffic jams from the ongoing Skyway extension project.

Poe said implementing a toll reduction would demonstrate the government's and the tollway management's empathy for what commuters have to put up with daily.

“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 press statement.

The SLEX earlier announced that, starting September 24, Lane 3-northbound or the outermost lane after the Alabang Viaduct in Muntinlupa City would be closed due to the construction of pylons for the 6-kilometer extension of the Skyway from Barangay Cupang to Susana Heights.

The closure had been causing tremendous traffic jams since last week.

Poe said she has been receiving complaints about the SLEX situation.

“Nagbabayad tayo ng toll dahil gusto natin ng mabilis na biyahe, kaya nga expressway. Pero ngayon, 28 kilometro ang ginagapang ng ating mga kababayan araw-araw,” she said at the hearing of the proposed 2020 budget of the Department of Transportation Thursday.

At the hearing, Abraham Sales, executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said they intended to seek the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA's) assistance in managing the traffic flow starting next week.

“Bakit pa hihintayin iyong next week?  I’m sure you can call the MMDA to come now and help,” Poe said.

The senator said transportation officials should consider the SLEX situation an urgent matter because most commuters have no other recourse but to pass through the highway.

Sales said they have relayed Poe’s toll rate cut proposal to the TRB and would the matter would be discussed. — DVM, GMA News