SMC waives toll fees for vehicles in Taal relief efforts

There will be no toll fees for both government and private vehicles involved in ongoing relief efforts following the eruption of Taal Volcano at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced that it is waiving fees at the two major highways as its share in the ongoing relief operations for those affected by the natural disaster.

Last week, SMC’s tollways unit announced it was waiving toll fees for southbound government vehicles carrying volunteers, equipment, and relief goods.

Private vehicles being used to deliver relief goods were also allowed to pass for free, with proper advance coordination with tollway management.

And to further hasten the delivery of relief goods to these areas without the need for advance coordination, SMC Tollways has now advised motorists carrying relief goods to stop at the following inspection sites: SLEX Southbound (Petron Silangan/Km 44, Mayapa Entry, Batino Entry, Calamba/Real Entry); STAR Southbound location (Sto. Tomas Entry); and all STAR Northbound entry locations (Batangas, Ibaan, Lipa, Toribio, Malvar, and Tanauan).

A toll supervisor, accompanied by a traffic enforcer, will then inspect the vehicle and issue a Free Single Exit Pass.

This pass should only be surrendered at the cash lanes where the vehicle will be exiting.

“This is part of our wide-ranging efforts across the San Miguel Group to help our countrymen, through our own relief operations, and by supporting and enabling others who also want to help,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

“Yet again, we are seeing the best of Filipinos—helping and lifting each other up in times of great need,” he added.

Since the crisis began, there has been a steady stream of vehicles heading to the areas of Batangas, Cavite and Tagaytay City to distribute relief goods.

San Miguel also bared that it has donated P23 million worth of relief goods for victims of the eruption of Taal Volcano.

In a statement, SMC said the relief goods, that include rice, canned goods, coffee, biscuits, milk, and eggs, were sent to victims who are temporarily staying in evacuation centers following Taal Volcano’s unrest.

SMC’s food branch, San Miguel Foods, also distributed food, face masks, blankets, sleeping mats and clothing to thousands of affected residents.

SMC Infrastructure, through its Bulacan Bulk Water unit, is also sending 15,000 five-gallon containers of drinking water to different locations in Batangas.

San Miguel Foundation is also planning to deliver a portable water filtration system, which can provide thousands of liters of drinking water.