Regulatory board Okays SCTEX toll increase starting Oct. 17

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved an additional P0.64 per kilometer toll rate adjustment at the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) effective October 17.

The new rates are part of the authorized SCTEX periodic adjustment due in 2021 and 2023 and were approved following proper regulatory procedures and thorough review by the TRB.

The TRB and SCTEX agreed to implement the adjustments in tranches to help cushion their impact on the users of the expressway, and this will be the first of three tranches.

In a statement Friday, the TRB said the provisionally approved toll fees had undergone “thorough and meticulous review”.

Under the new toll fee matrix, motorists with Class 1 vehicles traveling between Mabalacat City to Tarlac will be charged an additional P25.

Motorists with Class 2 vehicles traveling on the same route will pay an additional P50, and those with Class 3 vehicles will pay an additional P75.

Meanwhile, an additional P40, P8 and P121 will be charged to motorists using Class 1, 2, and 3 vehicles, respectively, traveling between Mabalacat City and Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan (near Subic Freeport).

Those traveling SCTEX end-to-end between Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan (near Subic Freeport) to Tarlac will pay an additional P65 for Class 1, P131 for Class 2 and P196 for Class 3.

The new rates were approved in August this year but SCTEX decided to defer implementation to October in light of the inflationary situation.

From 2020 to 2022, the company undertook numerous infrastructure and enhancements projects as part of its commitment to improve motorists safety and convenience while traveling the SCTEX.

“NLEX Corp. had to comply with all the procedures and requirements, including the publication and posting of surety bond, before the Notice to Start Collection was issued on August 16, 2023. These provisional toll rate adjustments shall still be subject to further review by the TRB pursuant to its existing rules,” the TRB said.

To mitigate the impact on motorists, the TRB has ordered the implementation of the provisionally approved toll fees in three tranches over three years.

NLEX Corp. filed for toll rate adjustments in 2020 and 2022.

In its letter dated Oct. 6 this year, NLEX Corp. informed the TRB that it intended to start the collection of the first tranche on Oct. 17.

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