MANILA, Philippines — Another senator has called for either a reduction or suspension of toll fees at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) as a massive gridlock grip the highway due to an ongoing Skyway extension project in Muntinlupa City.
It was Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate committee on public services, who earlier called for the reduction of toll rates.
Poe’s call over the weekend was echoed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday.
READ: Poe bats for reduced toll rates at SLEx amid standstill traffic
“I think ‘yung nag-construct n’yan is ‘yung may-ari rin ng toll road eh, so para mabigyan naman ng kaunting relief ang mga kababayan natin, I do recommend na i-slash or suspend muna ang toll rates dahil sila ang nag-construct, sila rin ang nakaperwisyo,” Gatchalian said in an interview at the Senate.
He likened it to the recent water crisis where many residents in the metropolis had been affected due to the lack of water supply.
“In line with that principle, para mabigyan naman ng relief ang ating mga commuters, suspend muna ang toll rates,” the senator said.
(In line with that principle, they should fist suspend the toll rates to provide some relief to our commuters)
But Gatchalian said there has to be a complaint first to justify the toll rates cut or suspension.
He said the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), on its own, can also conduct an investigation.
‘They should call for a hearing and then analyze kung dapat bigyan ng relief ang ating motorists (if our motorists should be given relief). I think it’s within the powers of TRB,” he said.
“Depending on the hearing, it ( toll rates) can be slashed, reduced or suspended also,” he added.
Gatchalian is wondering why there have been no mitigating measures that could have averted the traffic jam at SLEx. /kga