DOTr chief orders scrapping of new Skyway toll scheme

A queue of northbound vehicles forms at the newly-opened Skyway toll plaza near Naia Expressway on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.  (Contributed photo by Pia Valencia)

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered the cancellation of the new toll collection system at the Skyway after it sparked public outrage among motorists for causing heavy traffic.

Tugade said he has directed the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to abandon the scheme, stressing that a new toll collection system may not be implemented without assurance of a smooth implementation.

“In governance, public convenience always comes first. It’s always public good over regulation,” the DOTr chief said in a statement on Wednesday, January 31.

Skyway O&M Corporation launched its new toll payment scheme on January 27, Saturday, after it opened its new toll plaza on the Skyway’s northbound section.

Under the new system, motorists would stop at two toll booths: the payment booth where they would pay the toll fee and the new toll plaza where they would surrender their payment slips.

READ: Skyway reverts to old toll payment scheme amid public outrage

Despite its function to “make toll collection and traffic throughout more efficient,” the new toll plaza and payment scheme only made motorists miss their work or their flights due to the heavy traffic build up.

Amid the outrage, the Skyway management was compelled to revert to its old “pay as you enter” scheme for private vehicles coming from Alabang, Sucat, and Bicutan on Tuesday, January 30.

“These changes have to be communicated well to the public. We cannot afford confusion on the road because that will surely result in congestion,” Tugade said.

“Dapat mas mabilis ang biyahe sa mga expressway kaya nga ‘express’,” he added. “Ang mga karagdagang toll plaza, dapat nagpapabilis din ng biyahe, and not the other way around.”                    /kga