Citra toll increase proposal opposed

Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi vowed yesterday to fight the increase in Skyway toll being sought by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC).

Fresnedi assailed the planned toll fee hike, saying that there was no justification for the CMMTC to ask for increases in their rates which are already steep. He said the whole city government, including the city council, was supporting him because any such hike would directly affect the lives of his constituents.

The mayor’s opposition to the proposed toll hike was echoed by Ray Junia, chairman of the Movement for Responsible Enterprise (More-Enterprise), who said his group will oppose CMMTC’s petition and will ask the TRB to instead require the toll operator to refund users of SLEX for overpayments in toll fees.

"Ask regular users of the expressway and their common and consistent answer is: traffic in the expressway is still bad. It has improved, but not in the level explained to us by the CMMTC," Junia stressed.

Junia is from San Pedro, Laguna and a regular user of the expressway. He has just been nominated by PDP-Laban to run for vice mayor in his town.

"Many of us feel CMMTC’s increased toll fees is almost equal to a highway robbery. We are paying on a service that has not been delivered," Junia said.

"CMMTC makes us think that we are paying toll fees to reimburse them of the cost of improving the SLEX. This is not correct," Junia added. "SLEX users pay toll fees for the services the SLEX delivers like good roads and better traffic inside the expressway."

Fresnedi stated his position after Mariano Benedicto II, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) executive director, revealed the other day that they were scheduled to hear yesterday the petition of CMMTC for " an interim toll fee increase".

CMMTC constructed the Skyway from Buendia to Bicutan and upgraded the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Magallanes to Alabang.

CMMTC is asking for P75 for class 1 vehicles, P190 for class 2, and P300 for class 3 vehicles using the elevated and at-grade sections of the Skyway.

From Magallanes to Bicutan, the CMMTC is seeking P35 for class 1 vehicles, P90 for class 2, and P140 for class 3. From Bicutan to Sucat-P 20 for class 1; P50 for class 2; P80, class 3, and from Sucat to Alabang-P20, class 1; P50, class 2, and P80 for class 3 vehicles.

The petition includes C-5 Road and the Merville entry and exit points.

Public hearing of the petition will be held at 2 p.m. today at the second floor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Bldg., in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Fresnedi explained that the proposed higher toll rates was exorbitant, citing the 300 percent hike from P6 to P20 for class 1 vehicles coming from Sucat to Alabang, which only covers a three- kilometer distance.

"I am appealing to all residents to join the city government’s move to fight against the CMMTC’s petition because this issue affects the lives of all of us in Muntinlupa who pass through this highway," Fresnedi said. –Rainier Allan Ronda