TRB to decide on SLEx discount Nov. 7

THE TOLL Regulatory Board (TRB) will decide on the proposed toll discount at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) on Nov. 7, Board Member Raymundo L. Junia said on Thursday. “The process of imposing the discount is ongoing. We will have our meeting today, the technical working group (TWG), to finalize on our numbers. After it has been finalized by the TWG, it goes up to the board where I sit as the private sector representative. At the TWG, I am the chairman,” Mr. Raymundo said. He added that the TWG is also waiting for San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which controls the Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corp. (SOMCO), to make an offer of discount. “It’s a lot easier for us if the discount is offered by the concessionaire,” he said, adding that the discount would not be applied to the entire SLEx stretch. “What I can say is we might apply the discount on the stretch na nagkakaroon ng (where there was) traffic… But, of course, in the charging we will identify how much is that based on the stretch na may traffic.” He added, “For an instance, we’re looking at Alabang Viaduct and Susana Heights.” On Oct. 7, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian urged the TRB to suspend or reduce the tolls collected at SLEx, which has been severely congested due to construction activity. SOMCO is currently undertaking preliminary works on its extension project for the Skyway system, affecting SLEx. SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang has taken responsibility for the road congestion along the SLEx and promised that the problem will be resolved by Dec. 1. — Arjay L. Balinbin