THE operator of the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) are seeking to implement a 20-centavo per kilometer toll rate hike to recoup its P800-million investment in increasing the capacity of the R-1 Expressway.
Last Friday, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) published a notice to expressway users on the petition for approval of the add-on toll rate with application for provisional relief filed by Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) and PRA. The TRB said CAVITEx users can file a counter petition within 30 days from Nov. 2.
The current toll fee at CAVITEx for the seven-kilometer R-1 road is P24 for Class 1 vehicles, P48 for Class 2 and P72 for Class 3, thus a 20-centavo increase would translate to an additional P1.40 across all vehicle types. The R-1 Expressway runs from Seaside Drive to Zapote.
CIC, the concession holder for the CAVITEx, submitted to the TRB on Oct. 12 its petition to start implementing the add-on toll rate. CIC cited its investment in the R-1 enhancement project, which included the construction of an additional lane on both directions from R-1 toll plaza to MIA Road Intersection, and an additional lane on both directions from R-1 toll plaza to Las Piñas bridge.
CIC asked the TRB to issue a Notice to Start Toll Collection and an order allowing it and the PRA to collect the add-on toll fee as soon as the R-1 opens.
The opening of R-1 was originally scheduled last month, but has been delayed, pending submission and approval of certain documentations.
CIC president Luigi L. Bautista previously said the company is investing P1.1 billion for the development works in CAVITEx, with Phase 1 taking up P800 million.
“The add-on toll rate for the New Project is a contractual right to which CIC and PRA are entitled under the ToA (terms of agreement). Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure the sustainability and viability of the MCTEP (Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project) and its Expressways and to ensure the comfort and safety of motorists and other users of the Expressways and all the toll facilities,” CIC said in its petition.
Aside from the 20-centavo add-on it is seeking to implement now, the CAVITEx operator noted it has another 25-centavo add-on toll rate scheduled for the third quarter of 2019, when it finishes Phase 2 of the CAVITEx improvement works.
Phase 2 covers the P300-million widening of bridges in Wawa, Las Piñas and Parañaque, as well as the construction of an additional lane on both direction for the remaining R-1 mainline carriageway from Las Piñas Bridge to Zapote Interchange.
CIC is part of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). MPIC is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez
