POE WANTS SLEX TOLL SLASHED AMID TRAFFIC JAM

Sen. Grace Poe exhorted concerned officials to implement a reduction in toll rate at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), which is due to motorists suffering from the ongoing Skyway extension project.

"Motorists deserve to pay less for the trouble the gridlock is causing due to the extension project. Sa mala-prusisyong usad ng trapiko dahil dito, masama bang hilinging kaltasan ang toll sa mga motorista?" Poe asked.

Implementing a toll reduction will show that the government and the tollway management can feel the people's distress.

Earlier, Poe made the pitch for toll cut after receiving complaints about the SLEX situation.

In its traffic advisory, SLEX said it closed the Lane 3 northbound or the outermost lane after Alabang Viaduct in Muntinlupa City since Sept. 24 due to the construction of pylons for the 6-km. extension of the Skyway from Barangay Cupang to Susana Heights.

"Nagbabayad tayo ng toll dahil gusto natin ng mabilis na biyahe, kaya nga expressway. Pero ngayon, 28 kilometro ang ginagapang ng ating mga kababayan araw-araw," Poe said at the hearing of the proposed 2020 budget of the Department of Transportation Thursday.

At the hearing, Abraham Sales, executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said they intend to tap the assistance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help ease the traffic flow starting next week.

"Bakit pa hihintayin iyong next week? I'm sure you can call the MMDA to come now and help," Poe stressed.

Poe said transportation officials should consider the SLEX traffic as an urgent matter because most commuters have no other recourse but to pass through the highway.

Sales said they have relayed Poe's toll rate cut proposal to the TRB and would discuss it.

In the past, reduction of charges for the use of SLEX was also implemented during period of rehabilitation.