RP to raise tollway fees

RP to raise tollway fees

MANILA (Dow Jones): Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) said Thursday it plans to raise fees at its tollway in the southern portion of Metro Manila.

PNCC spokeswoman Cheche Perez said the toll increase will take effect once a new section of an elevated roadway, built and operated by Indonesia's PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, opens to vehicular traffic.

Perez said the rate adjustment is part of a 1995 deal between PNCC and PT Citra for the construction of the elevated road. PT Citra is a unit of Indonesian tollway operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala.

The PNCC plans to raise toll rates for the elevated road to 55 pesos (US$1.45) from 30 pesos for cars; to 110 pesos from 60 pesos for buses and light vehicles; and to 165 pesos from 90 pesos for trucks.

For a 6.5-kilometer stretch of the ground-level road that has been upgraded by PNCC, Perez said the toll will increase to 10.50 pesos from 1 peso for cars; to 21 pesos from 2 pesos for buses and light vehicles; and to 31.50 pesos from 3 pesos for trucks.