TRB stops Hacienda Luisita from collecting toll

Manila, Philippines - The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) for its collection of a P20 toll fee from motorists using the Luisita Parkway Road to get to the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

TRB spokesman Julius Corpuz said the TRB board of directors, chaired by Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso Jr., decided to issue the CDO after a special board meeting yesterday, as it asserted its authority over HLI on the matter of the toll fee collection.

TRB had earlier said that they may not have jurisdiction over the toll collection since Luisita Parkway Road was owned by HLI.

Motorists have complained about the collection of the P20 toll fee which started at 6 a.m. of May 17.

HLI, a publicly listed corporation, is owned by the Cojuangcos, the maternal family of President Aquino.