South Luzon Expressway. PHOTO: Philhyundai.com
MANILA, Philippines — For Christmas and the New Year, the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is waiving tolls on its major expressways, including the Skyway, but warned motorists of heavy holiday traffic.
As part of the company’s holiday tradition, tolls will be waived at the STAR, SLEX, the Skyway system, NAIAX, and the TPLEX, said the SMC on Wednesday.
According to a statement from the company, SMC President Ramon S. Ang said that the “toll holiday” will take place on the following dates:
- Christmas: December 24 (10:00 p.m.) — December 25 (6:00 a.m.)
- New Year: December 31 (10:00 p.m.) — January 1 (6:00 a.m.)
However, Ang warned of the usual traffic that happens during holidays.
“Traffic buildup and congestion at our expressways, ports, and airports is something we all expect at this time of the year, especially as restrictions have fully eased. We appeal to our motorists for their patience and understanding as we anticipate heavy traffic,” Ang said in the statement.
He urged motorists to plan their trips and leave earlier, especially for those who need to catch scheduled flights or bus trips.
“For motorists, we also suggest to please make sure your vehicles are in good condition and that your electronic toll collection accounts are topped up to prevent any delays to you and others,” Ang added.
Additional personnel will also be deployed to help scan Autosweep cards for drivers in line, so SMC advised motorists always to keep their cards ready.
In preparation for the holiday rush, the SMC recently launched the “Seamless Southern Tollways” initiative.
“We implemented the Seamless Southern Tollways initiative so motorists will no longer need to make as many stops and can fully enjoy seamless travel along Skyway, SLEX, and STAR. We started implementation last December 1, so that motorists can start feeling its benefits during the busy Christmas season,” said Ang.
Ang said that the scheme has improved traffic flow on the expressways.
Autosweep customer service centers and RFID installation kiosks at gasoline stations along SLEX will also remain open for the holidays, added SMC.