The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has approved the provisional toll rates for Skyway Stage 3 but a transport spokesperson clarified that entry into the tollways will remain free of charge for now.
"Inaprubhan na ng pamunuan ng TRB ang rekomendasyon na provisional rates ng Skyway 3 (The TRB management has approved the recommendation of provisional rates for Skyway 3)," TRB Spokesperson Julius Corpuz announced.
Corpuz said the board has approved the following provisional rates for Class 1 vehicles as recommended by its executive director, Transportation Assistant Secretary Giovanni Lopez, during a meeting on Thursday, March 25:
• Buendia to Sta. Mesa - P105
• Sta. Mesa to Ramon Magsaysay Ave. - P30
• Ramon Magsaysay Ave. to NLEX-Balintawak - P129
• Buendia to NLEX-Balintawak - P254
However, Corpuz clarified that the approval of provisional rates does not mean that Skyway 3 will immediately start collecting toll fees from motorists as it would be a separate process.
"Hindi pa po sila pwedeng maningil ng toll fee kahit provisionally approved na ang mga toll fees ng Skyway 3. Hiwalay na proseso po iyan at still ongoing (They are not yet allowed to collect toll fees even though the toll rates for Skyway 3 have been provisionally approved. That is a separate process which is still ongoing)," the transport official explained.
According to Corpuz, the TRB should issue first a notice to start collection to San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the operator of Skyway 3.
The authority to collect toll fees, Corpuz added, will be issued once the toll operator is already fully complied with the requirements such as testing and commissioning of its toll collection systems.
The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 was officially opened in late December 2020. It stretches from Buendia, Makati City up to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City.
The tollway aims to cut travel time between the two points down to 20 minutes or less, as well as decongest EDSA.
Opened to the public by SMC Infrastructure in late December, no toll was charged as it has not been completed yet.
The TRB earlier said that the use of Skyway 3 will remain free of charge until all the ramps have been built and the tollway's full alignment completion has surpassed the 95-percent mark.