Skyway developer,  Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC), today clarified that no increase in Skyway tolls will be implemented until after the construction of Skyway Stage 2’s  Sucat-Alabang section is finished by May 2011.

As earlier announced,   the construction of the 3.5-km. Bicutan-Sucat section of the Skyway Stage 2 will be finished by the end of November 2010. When it opens to traffic shortly afterward,  CMMTC expects the traffic flow both on the at-grade and elevated sections of the Skyway System to improve considerably. With this positive development, CMMTC plans to recall the 23.5% toll discount for the Skyway Buendia-Bicutan section it extended to motorists to make up for the traffic inconvenience caused by the construction of Skyway Stage 2’s foundation works when the three (3) standard travel lanes had to be re-configured to three (3) narrow lanes each for the southbound and northbound directions.

It will be recalled that the toll discount that took effect on July 14, 2009 lowered the toll rates on the Skyway’s elevated section to Php65 from Php85 for Class 1 vehicles (cars and jeepneys), to Php130 from Php170 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and light trucks), and to Php195 from Php225 for Class 3 vehicles (multi-axled trucks and trailer vans).

CMMTC  now awaits the go-signal of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to revert to the old Skyway toll rates.  Under the Toll Operation Agreement with the government, through the TRB,  CMMTC is authorized to raise its toll rates based on the agreed initial toll rate upon completion and partial operation of a project section.  In this case,  the completed project section is the Skyway Bicutan-Sucat section which is set  to open to traffic early next month.   However, CMMTC is asking TRB only to agree to lift the Skyway toll discount and to revert to the old toll rate which CMMTC plans re-implement next month for the whole stretch of the Skyway’s elevated section between Buendia and Sucat.