Filipino commuters just couldn’t catch a break. There’s the continuous movement of fuel prices, as well as the jeepney operators and drivers asking for higher PUJ fares. And now, we’re about to break another bad news for those who travel in and out of Manila and the provinces of Central Luzon.

The Toll Regulatory Board has just announced the approval of NLEX Corporation’s petitions to raise the toll fees collected for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). The TRB also shared the toll rate adjustment petitions filed by the tollway operator in 2020 and 2022.

This was after the TRB’s “thorough and meticulous review” of the petitions and NLEX Corporation’s compliance with the necessary procedures and requirements. But to consider the plight of motorists and commuters, the agency proposed the staggered collection of the new toll rates.

This means that SCTEX is allowed the first tranche of the rate hike tomorrow, October 17, while the next two tranches will be collected within the next three years. The SCTEX’s management decided to defer the implementation of the toll hike, even though they received the decision and notice to start collection last August 16.

So, by tomorrow (October 17), the following additional toll fee charges will be implemented:

• Mabalacat City to Tarlac (vice versa)
  • Class 1 – P25
  • Class 2 – P50
  • Class 3 – P75

• Mabalacat City to Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan (vice versa)
  • Class 1 – P40
  • Class 2 – P81
  • Class 3 – P121

• End to end (Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan to Tarlac, and vice versa)
  • Class 1 – P65
  • Class 2 – P131
  • Class 3 – P196

With the approval of the toll fee hike, the TRB expects NLEX Corporation to continue maintaining the SCTEX in good condition, and do improvements and expansion works that will benefit those using it.

NLEX Corporation, for its part, assures the public that SCTEX will continue to be safe for those who use it. The company has initiated the upgrading of roadway lights and signage, and maintained and improved toll plazas and toll systems. It also shared the extensive works in replacing and crack-sealing of the SCTEX’s pavements, as well as the maintenance and the fixing of guardrails and fences.

Recent major SCTEX works that NLEX Corporation has carried out are the raising of the Dinalupihan Road. It also made repairs to the bridges of Porac-Gumain, San Matias, and Pasig-Potrero.