Estates Authority to raise Coastal Road toll

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Estates Authority (PEA) Tollway office said yesterday that the toll for motorists going through Coastal Road from Kabihasnan, Parañaque City to Roxas Boulevard – a distance of about five to seven kilometers – will increase from P5 to P8 effective next month.

Rene Mauricio, manager of the traffic safety and regulatory unit of the PEA-Tollway, said their office is just the implementing body and the increase is based on a resolution passed by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

The increase will affect “Class 1 motorists, basically private vehicles such as cars traversing Kabihasnan Road going to the Baclaran area” in Parañaque City, he said.

Mauricio added that “not so many vehicles are passing the said route so I don’t think many will feel burdened by this.”

He said they are open to reactions or suggestions until the increase takes effect.

Transportation Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc said the increase for this stretch of the Coastal Road was supposed to have been implemented last Jan. 1, but the tollway operator made a mistake and did not include it in its request – made every three years – for an increase in the toll rates for the whole Coastal Road.

– Rhodina Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda