MANILA -- Several lawmakers on Sunday expressed support to the deferment of implementation of toll hike at South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Considering the burden that 277 percent toll hike could cause the public, legislators joined the call to stop the hike on SLEX toll.

The Supreme Court has issued a temporLegislators wanted today rallied behind a move asking the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the 277-percent toll hike at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), which will greatly affect public interest.

“The increase will affect the motoring public especially

the businessmen, the office employees and students who regularly ply the South Luzon expressway,” Cibac Representative Joel Villanueva said in a statement.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda has filed temporary restraining order to postpone the implementation of toll increase.

Villanueva said the toll hike would greatly affect the public as the cost of transportation would most likely increase.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, meanwhile, said that the increase is a “highway robbery".

"The government should subsidize and not private its

infrastructure development projects,” Colmenares said.

Sun.Star Manila tried to reach Malacañang for comment but President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda did not reply. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)