Expressway toll fees are now free for all medical frontliners

As of March 27, 2020, Mark Villar, the Secretary leading the helm of the Department of Public Works and Highways, announced that all tolls for all expressways across the Philippines are now waived for the medical frontliners fighting in the battle against the novel coronavirus.

SMC and MPTC: Free passage for medical frontliners

For those expressways owned and operated by San Miguel Corp (SMC), which include South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), STAR Tollway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), medical workers will need to acquire a special RFID sticker from SMC. If they already have one, then SMC will just have to convert their existing RFID sticker.

NLEX on a normal day

For the Metro Pacific expressways like North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Cavite - Laguna Expressway, NLEX Harbor Link, and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, medical frontliners should present their PRC license I.D. card at the Balintawak Toll Plaza and Cavitex customer service centers. This is effective beginning March 30, 2020 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

>>> Related: San Miguel Corporation's road made out of recycled plastics

The Balintawak-Toll Plaza 

In a statement, SMC President Ramon Ang says that:

“This is the least we can do to show our appreciation and gratitude for our doctors and nurses who are working under extremely challenging circumstances to save lives. Considering the sacrifices they make on a daily basis, this is a small gesture. But nevertheless, we hope it helps make life a bit easier for them and remind them that what they do for all [of] us is deeply appreciated”

The entire island of Luzon is now in the third week of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, and as of March 30, 2020, the number of recorded coronavirus cases across the entire Philippines now number at 1,418 in total.

For more COVID-19 related updates, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.