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Sunday, February 25, 2007
Toll increase in Kennon, Halsema pushed
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO -- Motorists traveling Kennon Road and Halsema Highway would have to prepare for another increase in the toll they pay.
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Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Mariano Alquiza said the agency is contemplating on increasing the current fees by another five pesos within this year.
The minimum fee collected at the Kennon and Halsema tollgates, also known as the Baguio-Bontoc-Kennon-Naguillan operations, is two-pesos for motorcycles while the maximum is P20 for trucks.
Alquiza said there is a need to improve the collection of toll charges to compensate for the salaries and allowances of the personnel manning the gates and to maintain the national roads.
Around 57 individuals are employed in these facilities, including the tellers, utility persons and maintenance crew and security personnel. The tollgates operate on a 24-hour basis.
Kennon and Halsema toll charges collected from motorists are very minimal compared to other tollgates in other areas, and this is barely enough to cover the salaries of personnel assigned to these gates, Alquiza said.
Salaries, including the allowances of tollgate personnel, amount to P7 million a year.
In 2005, the total collection made from the BBKN operations amounted to P7 million. Last year, after the DPWH increased rates, fees collected reached P16.2 million.
"This is a break-even collection, enough to pay the personnel and to sustain the roads' maintenance," Alquiza told members of the Provincial Board.
He was invited to explain the actual collection from the tollgates, following a board proposal to ask the National Government to directly release the shares of the DPWH local offices from the toll collection.
Alquiza informed the Board that the regional office has the same proposal and is even working on the implementation of a Presidential Decree allowing the direct use of fees from the BBKN operations for the maintenance and repair of Kennon Road and Halsema Highway. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 25, 2007 issue)
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