INACTION on toll rate hike applications by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) has served to erode confidence in the ability of companies participating in public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enforce the terms of their contracts, the Department of Finance (DoF) said on Sunday.
It said toll hike applications by NLEX have not been acted on by previous governments, with some applications dating back to 2010, the DoF said.
“The NLEX rate increase is for staggered implementation — not a one-time implementation. It staggered over several years,” Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said.
“The increase piled up because of the inaction of previous administrations. The Marcos administration has had to act on petitions from 2010,” he added.
On Saturday, the Toll Regulatory Board approved a toll rate adjustment for NLEX which will add P7 to the rate for the open system and 36 centavos per kilometer for the closed system.
The new rates are part of the authorized NLEX periodic adjustments due in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020. The rates will cover the last tranche of the 2012 and 2014 and half of 2018 and 2020 periodic adjustments.
Rene S. Santiago, a public transport expert, said that the approval of rate increases bodes well for future PPPs.
“It is a good sign for future PPPs, when our regulatory agencies respect terms of the concession agreement. I hope the TRB will accelerate unified toll cards between AutoSweep and Easytrip,” he said.
“The petitions were carefully studied and analyzed. They were approved objectively and fairly. The government needs to perform its contractual obligations under the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement,” Mr. Diokno said.
“We are promoting PPPs. And the government will have no credibility as a partner if it does not comply with its contractual obligations under past PPP contracts,” he added.
Under the new toll fee matrix. Motorists traveling anywhere within the open system will pay an additional P7 for class 1 vehicles or regular cars and SUVs, P17 for class 2 or buses and small trucks and P19 for class 3 or large trucks.
Travelers along NLEX from Metro Manila to Mabalacat City, Pampanga will pay an additional P33 for class 1 vehicles, P81 for class 2 and P98 for class 3.
The open system runs from the Metro Manila cities of Navotas, Valenzuela and Caloocan to Marilao, Bulacan, while the closed system is between Bocaue, Bulacan and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat City, Pampanga, including Subic-Tipo.
The adjusted toll matrix will take effect on June 15, while public utility jeepneys under the NLEX Pass-ada and Tsuper discount and rebate program will continue to enjoy the old rates. — Justine Irish D. Tabile