Toll rates up at Skyway and Manila-Cavite

Motorists using the Skyway and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway will pay higher toll starting on April 25, according to the Toll Regulatory Board.

Skyway operator Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. Has obtained authority to charge the increased toll rates of P147 for class 1 vehicles from Makati to Alabang, P294 for class 2 vehicles and P441 for class 3 vehicles.

The Citra Metro Manila Tollways has been collecting P85 per kilometer for class 1 vehicles, P170 per kilometer for class 2 vehicles, and P225 per kilometer for class 3 vehicles from Makati to Bicutan portion of the Skyway.

Citra opened the newly completed 6.88-kilometer stage 2 of the expressway that extended the 9.5-kilometer elevated toll road from Bicutan to Alabang.

The Indonesian firm has yet to recover its $540 million investment in Stage 1 and more than P8.5 billion in Stage 2.

The Manila-Cavite Expressway, the 6.6-km expressway owned and operated by a consortium composed of the Public Estates Authority and UEM-MARA Philippines Corp, will also raise its toll rates starting on May 1.

Class 1 vehicles will have to pay P58 for the R-1 extension which spans from Zapote to Kawit, Cavite, P116 for class 2 vehicles and P174 for class 3 vehicles.

TRB spokesman Julius Corpuz clarified that there will be no toll increase at the Coastal Road from the Airport Road to Zapote; Only the newly-completed extension will effect a new set of toll.

Late last year, the toll regulator also approved higher toll rates for the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressay and the South Luzon Expressway. The new toll rates were effective starting this year. –Jeremiah de Guzman, Manila Standard Today