SMC waives toll fees at SLEx for relief operations

VIEW of a portion of South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) at Bilibid area, Muntinlupa City as of April 2014. — WIKIPEDIA.ORG

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) said no fees would be collected at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) for vehicles involved in relief operations in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

In a statement e-mailed to reporters on Tuesday, SMC said it has “waived” toll fees at the two toll gates it operates “for both government and private vehicles involved in ongoing relief efforts, following the eruption of Taal Volcano.”

SMC also announced last week that it would not collect toll fees from “southbound government vehicles” that carry volunteers, equipment, and relief supplies.

“Private vehicles being used to deliver relief goods were also allowed to pass for free, with proper advance coordination with tollway management,” it added.

Vehicles that carry relief goods can now pass through the toll gates for free without the need for advance coordination with the SMC tollway management.

SMC said they can stop at the following sites for inspection: SLEX Southbound (Petron Silangan/KM 44, Mayapa Entry, Batino Entry, Calamba/Real Entry); STAR Southbound location (Sto. Tomas Entry); and all STAR Northbound entry locations (Batangas, Ibaan, Lipa, Toribio, Malvar, and Tanauan).

SMC President Ramon S. Ang said: “This is part of our wide-ranging efforts across the San Miguel Group to help our countrymen, through our own relief operations, and by supporting and enabling others who also want to help.”

“Yet again, we are seeing the best of Filipinos—helping and lifting each other up in times of great need,” Mr. Ang added.

Renato U. Solidum, Jr., director of the local volcanology agency, has warned of a sudden explosive eruption as gas continued to build up beneath Taal Volcano.

Taal Volcano in Batangas province forced thousands of residents to flee after it emitted a thick ash column on Jan. 12.

The ashfall covered cities near the capital, forcing financial markets to suspend trading and the Manila airport to close.

About 50,000 families in Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite had been affected by the eruption as of 6 a.m. of Monday, according to the local disaster agency’s report. — Arjay L. Balinbin