The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has given its go signal to the new operator of the newly rehabilitated South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) to implement a 250-percent toll hike at the Alabang (Muntinlupa)-Calamba (Laguna) stretch of the tollway starting June 30, 2010, the day when President- elect Benigno Simeon Aquino III takes his oath as the country’s 15th President.

From Alabang to Calamba, the new toll rates are: P77 for Class 1; P155 for Class 2; and P232 for Class 3 up from the old rates of P22, P43, and P65 for classes 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

The new rates are: P2.73/km for Class 1 (light vehicles); P5.46/km. for Class 2 (buses); and P8.19/km for Class 3 (heavy trucks), while the old rates of P.75/km., P1.51/km, and P2.27/km for classes 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

The toll hike at the SLEx, a thoroughfare used by at least 200,000 motorists daily, may only be implemented starting June 30, 2010 in view of the publication requirements, TRB spokesman Julius Corpuz said on Wednesday.

Asked why the implementation of the toll hike coincided with Aquino’s inauguration, Corpuz said, “The board may have opted to perform their functions and responsibilities than pass this sensitive decision to the next administration.”

Corpuz said, “that the board, after finding that new SLEx operator South Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC) has complied with their obligations and the TRB conditions, granted the right of the investors to collect the new toll fees thru their designated operator Manila Toll Expressway Systems, Inc. (MATES).”

“The TRB recognizes and respects the rights of the Investor/Operator as well as the provisions and procedures stated in the agreement entered into by the government with the investor or operator,” Corpuz said.

“The SLTC and MATES, however, are obligated to continuously and properly maintain the SLEx and to always provide the best service to the motorists users,” Corpuz said," he added.

He maintained that the new toll are provisional in nature and "any interested expressway user may file a petition for review of the new toll fees within 90 days from the date of publication.”

“Thereafter, the TRB shall conduct a public hearing to discuss the issues raised by the petitioners and to determine if the new toll fees are indeed justifiable.”

Though some transport groups, particularly provincial bus operators organizations have voiced opposition to the 250 percent toll hike at the SLEx, said Alma Tuazon, spokesperson of SLTC.

“They are just appropriate for the newly reconstructed and widened SLEx. The old toll rates were the lowest in the country and were charged for the old and worn out SLEx for years,” she said in a statement.

Tuazon claimed that travel time from Alabang to Calamba has been significantly reduced to around 30 minutes from the usual one hour.

“And soon, travel time from Calamba to Sto. Tomas, Batangas will only take 10 minutes from the usual one hour due to the perennial heavy traffic at the existing national road. Motorists will also save on fuel and other vehicle operating costs such as repairs and maintenance,” she said.

She also assured that SLEx users will have a much safer travel, with the installation of additional roadway lighting, several closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor accidents, robberies and vehicle breakdowns and the quick response of patrols, ambulance and tow trucks to assist the motorists.

SLTC said it is also about to complete the new Calamba to Sto. Tomas section of the SLEx project which connects to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway in Batangas City.