|
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Cervantes: MNTC to take over Nlex
By Ding Cervantes
WITH only finishing touches remaining in the modernized North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) is also finalizing "definite plans" to give discounts not only for public utility vehicles but also for "frequent users" of the upgraded 84-kilometer thoroughfare.
MNTC vice president for public information Marlene Ochoa also told me on the phone the other day that her firm will take over the Nlex from the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) either on December 15 "at the earliest" or on February 2 next year.
"Our marketing department is finalizing details on the discounts for PUV's and tackling who to classify as frequent users," said Ochoa, adding that the details would be announced before the MNTC takes over Nlex with tolls higher by 378 percent than current rates.
She said the Nlex "is almost finished" except for some work on "operational equipment" and some improvement on some sections to ensure their quality.
"There will definitely be discounts. We just have to determine how much and for whom," she said.
Ochoa's clarification on the increase in toll was in reaction to estimates that the increase would be as high as 600 percent. "The present rate is 52 centavos per kilometer. When the MNTC takes over, it will collect only P2.49 centavos, so this means that the rates would be higher only by P1.97 per kilometer than present rates," she stressed.
Kit Ventura, MNTC public relation officer, earlier explained "If you subtract 52 centavos from P2.49, you will get P1.97 and if you divide that by 52 centavos you will get 378 percent."
Ventura cited a study of the University of the Philippines indicating that about 80 percent of motorists who travel the Nlex cover only about 35 kilometers of its 80-kilometer stretch and could therefore pay only about P75 toll. He said studies show that daily, only seven percent of all motorists would pay the maximum of P200 for the use of the entire length of Nlex under the new MNTC rates.
He noted that under the law, changes in the toll rates could be done only once every two years, adding "the Nlex uses reasonable and internationally accepted direct road user fee principles for revenue collection."
"The toll will affect only those who directly use the Nlex facilities and services. Investments are to be recovered only through toll rates rather than from tax revenues, thus ensuring the people who do not use it that they will not be burdened with the cost of the project," he added.
Ventura also explained that Nlex will have "open" and "closed" system for toll fees. "In the open system, motorists will stop once and then can take any exit from Balintawak to Marilao at a flat rate of P42. In the closed system, first class vehicles taking the route from Bocaue to Sta. Ines will be charged P2.49 per kilometer, while class 2 vehicles will be charged P6.23 per kilometer and class 3 vehicles P7.47 per kilometer."
He said the P18.3-billion Nlex modernization project covered upgrading of the existing 295-kilometer lanes from Balintawak to Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Ventura noted that already, the improved NLEX has already reduced travel time between Pampanga and Manila from two hours to one hour, and will soon be equipped with electronic toll collection facility, emergency boxes, variable pictogram signs, close circuit television for traffic monitoring, radio broadcast service for motorists, and portable weighing scales, among other modern facilities.
He clarified that at present, the PNCC is still operating the Nlex. He stressed that the PNCC, not the MNTC, was the one, which hiked the toll rates recently from P22 to P41 for the use of the entire length of the expressway.
(November 20, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
