Friday, April 04, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
THE Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) plans to charge motorists a P2 per kilometer rate for the use of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
In a letter dated March 28 to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto B. Santos, Manuel Imperial, TRB executive director, said the regulator’s initial assessment showed that it would have to impose that minimum given the interest payments for the loan used to construct the highway and its projected 11.07 percent rate of return.
Imperial said the proposed fee is lower than the P2.40 per kilometer rate provided under the Terms of Agreement for the project.
“In view thereof, may we respectfully request for your good office to provide us with a socio-economic input analysis on the initial authorized toll rates to be implemented at the SCTEx,” the TRB official said.
In a telephone interview, Imperial said that the proposed P2 toll rate has yet to be finalized.
“The board will still meet together with the BCDA [Bases Conversion and Development Authority] to approve the proposed toll rate. We will meet this week,” he said.
Imperial said BCDA will announce the toll rate before the SCTEx commercial operations begin in April 28.
The four-lane 93.77-kilometer highway is divided into two major sections. The first leg, the Subic-Clark section, runs to 50.5 kilometers long, while the Clark-Tarlac section measures 43.27 kilometers long.
The expressway has eight interchanges at the Tipo Junction, Dinalupihan Interchange, Clark Logistics Interchange, Spur/North Luzon Expressway Interchange, Clark North Interchange, Conception Interchange, and San Miguel Interchange.
SCTEx is the country’s longest expressway and is envisioned to transform the area into a super region that would attract investors worldwide through the integration of all economic activities in the Subic Freeport and Special Economic Zone, Clark Special Economic Zone, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.
The P27.40-billion project started in April 2005 and was completed this month.
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