Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said it is willing to follow the lead of San Miguel Corp. in offering free use of select tollways during the proposed rehabilitation of EDSA, the main thoroughfare of the metropolis.
MPTC Chairman and President Manuel Pangilinan said, “I think we also have a connector. Maybe we should do the same thing.”
On the sidelines of Meralco’s annual stockholders meeting in Pasig City on Tuesday, Pangilinan said, “It was a good lead that they’ve taken, and I think we should follow their example to help out in the traffic situation, I guess, for the next two years or so.”
Pangilinan did not say which tollways would offer free use of motorists.
Tollways being operated by MPTC include the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and the NLEX Connector.
Earlier this week, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said portions of SMC’s Skyway Stage 3 will be toll free during the scheduled rehabilitation of EDSA in June, to ease the burden of travelers.
The DOTr said it has been working closely with the Toll Regulatory Board to identify viable measures to mitigate the projected revenue loss to SMC due to the planned toll holiday in select segments of Skyway Stage 3.
Earlier, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon also said the P7.3-billion rehabilitation of EDSA is estimated to run for 17 months, with work done on a 24-hour basis.
Meanwhile, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said preparatory works for the project will commence on June 13, 2025, and the actual construction works will begin a week later.
