The government has cited the country’s two largest expressways operators — San Miguel Tollways and Metro Pacific Tollways — for implementing toll holidays in portions of Skyway Stage 3 while EDSA is undergoing a two-year rehabilitation.
Already, the Pangilinan-led MPTC is in discussion with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement a toll holiday at the eight-kilometer NLEX Connector following SMC’s initiative.
Apart from NLEX and NLEX Connector, MPTC also operates the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) extends its heartfelt gratitude to the SMCTollways and MPTC for lending a helping hand and offering to implement a toll holiday on the Skyway Stage 3 and NLEX Connector as alternate routes during the entire duration of the EDSA rebuild.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to ease the burden of the EDSA rebuild to commuters and motorists, and this deep sense of social responsibility to the nation and Filipinos from our private partners will at least alleviate the expected struggles brought by the rebuild,” the DOTr said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projected the EDSA rehabilitation to last until 2027, with the preparatory works set to begin on June 13.
To help ease traffic, the government is planning to add 100 buses along the EDSA Busway, and additional car train sets on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) during the rehabilitation period.
