By FRED M. ROXAS
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Many motorists were caught unprepared in the implementation yesterday morning of the increased toll rates at the new North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Some toll plazas, specially in Balintawak, Quezon City, experienced slow movement of exiting motorists as many of them were caught not ready or did not have enough money for the sudden implementation of the toll rates increase.
However, several motorists who were interviewed in some toll plazas said that they could not help but comply with the new toll rates because they claim they were in a hurry.
A Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) staff who supervised the implementation of the new toll increase said that some motorists who did not have enough cash for the toll were allowed to exit and required to execute hurriedly prepared promisory notes that they owe the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) a certain amount. License plate numbers of some vehicles which did not pay the exact new toll rates were recorded, probably to collect the unpaid amounts when they use again the expressway.
MNTC personnel manning expressway service patrol cars said that except for some minor traffic problems, movement of motorists in the entire NLEX was generally smooth.
The MNTC took over from the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) yesterday morning the operation and maintenance of the NLEX as well as the collection of the new toll rates.
Some motorists said they were prepared for the implementation of the new toll rates, saying that they have read it in the newspapers and saw on television a series of announcements that toll rates at the NLEX would be collected either yesterday or today, Friday.
Many public utility vehicle drivers and operators said they were not properly informed on how they can get discounts in toll fees as frequent users of the expressway.
MNTC officials earlier have repeatedly announced that PUV drivers and operators can purchase day passes for R190 that will allow to have unlimited access to the Bocaue (Bulacan) to Balintawak stretch for 12 hours.
All the toll plazas at the NLEX between Balintawak and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat, Pampanga have been distributing information pamphlets to motorists for more than two months now on the enforcement of the new toll rates and some new facilities in the NLEX.
