Up to 50 percent Slex toll hike looms next year

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A toll increase of up to 50 percent for South Luzon Expressway (Slex) and 10 percent for North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) may greet motorists next year, the head of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said Tuesday.

TRB Executive Director Edmund Reyes disclosed the looming toll hikes during a budget hearing in the Senate.

“[Slex is] actually applying for 33 percent if given an income tax holiday,” Reyes told the Senate sub-committee on finance, responding to Senator Ralph Recto’s queries.

“If there’s no income tax holiday there’s an additional increase? Higher than 33 percent?” Recto asked.

Reyes agreed, saying the toll hike could go up to 50 percent.

Unlike Slex, the TRB chief said the proposed increase for Nlex was only about 10 percent.

Recto then asked why there was a big difference in the proposed toll hikes for Slex and Nlex.

“When this contract was entered into before, obviously they structured it in such a way that the initial rate would be low,” he said.