Toll fees waived for travelers this coming New Year

Nearly a month after the mandated transition to cashless tollway payments, motorists still have to contend with various issues surrounding the necessary RFID stickers. As a respite of sorts for the public this holiday season, toll operators are waiving fees collected from their expressways.

Motorists get to use the expressways for free as the year comes to a close

In separate announcements, both San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) said that motorists will be allowed to use their respective toll roads with no payment. The free pass will be in effect at the following expressways:

San Miguel Corporation

• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Skyway
• NAIA Expressway (NAIAX)
• Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway
• Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation

• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
• Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
• Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX)
• C5 Link
• Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)

>>> Related: Skyway Stage 3 to open tomorrow, toll fee is lifted for a month

The toll holiday for the New Year takes effect at 10 p.m. on December 31, 2020 until 6 a.m. of January 1, 2021, mirroring a similar arrangement implemented last December 24 to 25, 2020. Granted, it’s not exactly the best time to be on the road, but at least the eight-hour time period should be enough to accommodate everyone who needs to get home in time to celebrate the year’s turnover with the family.

“This is an annual tradition that we do for the benefit of motorists, especially those who have to see family in other parts of the city or have to go home to the provinces,” according to SMC president and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang, while reminding the public to limit holiday gatherings to household members to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

“For those who do have reason, or an urgent need to travel on the expressways on Christmas and New Year’s, we hope you appreciate and enjoy this toll holiday and pass on a small act of kindness to others.”

SMC President and COO Ramon S. Ang

>>> Related: RFID cashless toll transaction to start full implementation mid-2021

MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo Franco echoed Ang’s sentiments. “This simple treat is part of our group’s initiative to give back to our customers especially this holiday season,” he said, adding that all MPTC tollways will deploy additional personnel for patrols, security, and RFID assistance, as well as emergency medical services and incident response.

Construction and lane closures along the main line of the expressways have been suspended until January 5, 2021 except for the necessary safety repairs. Free 24-hour towing services to the nearest exit for Class 1 vehicles will also be available at NLEX-SCTEX from January 2 to 3, 2021.

Get more holiday traffic updates at Philkotse.com.