SLEx operator may get fined, toll fees cut proposed over daily ‘carmageddon’

Elevated sections of the P10-billion Skyway extension project at the Alabang viaduct.      SCREENGRAB FROM VIDEO OF SKYWAY O&M CORP

THE private-sector representative of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said the agency might impose fines on the operator of South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and Skyway for its failure to mitigate the daily traffic jam on the northbound portion of the expressway.

Raymundo L. Junia said the five-member TRB was also looking into reducing toll fees on SLEx. The TRB has jurisdiction over the country’s expressways.

Besides Junia, also sitting on the TRB are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

“We are just waiting for the officials of SLEx and Skyway to make an offer. If they don’t, we will do the necessary action,” Junia said.

The usual snail-paced flow of vehicles along the Metro Manila-bound portion of SLEx has become worse after the outermost lane of Skyway at-grade level just after the Alabang viaduct in Muntinlupa City was closed starting on the evening of September 24. One lane of the adjacent East service road was also closed.

The closure gives way to the construction of the P10-billion Skyway extension project from Barangay Cupang (starting at Kilometer 22) to Barangay Putatan — both in Muntinlupa.

On September 26 traffic backed up from the Alabang viaduct to the Eton exit in Santa Rosa City, Laguna province — a distance of 24 kilometers. The “carmageddon” has prompted Senators Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian to suggest the lowering of toll fees during the construction period of the Skyway extension.

Gatchalian even moved for a toll holiday to help ease the burden of affected motorists and those taking public transportation.

Junia said it was Tugade, TRB co-chairman, who directed the regulator to look into the possibility of reducing toll on SLEx even before the two senators made the proposal.

Junia said the TRB was reviewing the penalties that it would levy on SMC Tollways, operator of the SLEx and Skyway.

“It (imposing fines) is already on the plate. We are looking in that direction,” Junia told the Inquirer over the phone.

“While it may take a while, we are now trying to standardize the performance of the toll operators in terms of managing traffic. This would trigger better services for the public,” he added.

Junia said the TRB had pushed for the six-kilometer additional elevated highway to decongest traffic in the northbound lane of the Alabang viaduct, which normally reaches the San Pedro and Southwoods exits of SLEx in Laguna during rush hours.

The project started in August and is expected to be finished by December 2020.