MANILA, Philippines - Motorists plying the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) route, are bracing for a hefty 250% hike in toll fees as the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved the new charges which takes effect on June 30.

TRB said on Wednesday that it gave the green light for the Slex operator to begin charging higher toll fees, after it complied with all the requirements. These include the construction and rehabilitation of toll plazas, and the  installation of new software for the toll collection systems.

Slex operator, the South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC) holds a 30-year contract to operate, maintain and expand the expressway. SLTC is 80% owned by Malaysia’s second largest toll road operator, MTD Capital Berhad.

SLTC said it also put up security features such as better lighting facilities and cameras mounted throughout the  roadway and exit and entry loops, which are aimed at improving emergency response times to motorists.

The Alabang to Calamba stretch is 27.3 kilometers long, with an 8-km extension that links Slex to the 42-km Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, which starts in Santo Tomas, Batangas and ends in Batangas City.

The current toll at Slex from the Alabang to Calamba stretch is P22 for light vehicles, P43 for buses and P65 for  heavy trucks.

SLTC said previously that it spent about P12 billion to rehabilitate the expressway.

In a related development, the South Luzon Bus Operators Association which is opposing the toll hike, said it may  file a case against SLTC before the Court of Appeals.

On the other hand, the TRB said it is currently studying the imposition of a value added tax on the new toll fees,  originally a proposal of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. - based on a report of Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News