We hate to bring you bad news, but we have no choice as the Toll Regulatory Board has just announced that it approved the latest toll fee adjustment requested by NLEX Corporation. This toll hike will be collected beginning tomorrow, March 2.

Those passing through the open system (Balintawak, Caloocan, and Mindanao Avenue to North of Marilao) will cough up an additional P5 for Class 1, P13 for Class 2, and P15 for Class 3 vehicles. This means the open system toll fees are now P79 for Class 1, P199 for Class 2, and P238 for Class 3 vehicles.

Consequently, end-to-end users (from Manila to Santa Ines, Mabalacat City) will pay P57 more for Class 1, P142 for Class 2, and P171 for Class 3. Those who use this segment must shell out P416 for Class 1, P1,039 for Class 2, and P1,247 for Class 3.

The toll fees on the Subic Freeport Expressway will also increase as NLEX will collect an additional P7 for Class 1, P18 for Class 2, and P21 for Class 3 vehicles. Expect more toll rate hikes in the future as the TRB only allowed NLEX to collect 50% of the 2022 periodic toll rate adjustments that the agency approved.

The TRB argues that this approval will let NLEX recover its investment in the tollway, such as improvements like the Candaba third viaduct, which was fully opened on December 10, 2024, with the toll operator not collecting additional toll fees.

So, load up, dear readers. This way, it’ll save you all the hassles that come with insufficiently loaded RFID accounts. And for those still using the cash lanes, prepare to shell out more when you pass through NLEX in the coming days.