Probe sought on 300% Slex toll hike By Gerry Baldo 08/14/2010

Probe sought on 300% Slex toll hike

By Gerry Baldo 08/14/2010 Despite the high court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the increase in toll rates to be charged by expressways, which would have been implemented on Monday, a lawmaker from the party-list Bayan Muna yesterday sought an investigation into the impending 300 percent hike in toll rates at the 30-kilometer South Luzon Expressway (Slex). Rep. Teddy Casino said there is a need to pry into the decision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to allow the management of the Southern Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC) to increase the toll rates that would affect a quarter of a million vehicles that ply the route everyday. He pointed out that the proposed toll rates are allegedly part of the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) entered in behalf of the government by TRB with SLTC.  SLTC is owned 80-percent by MTD Manila Expressways, Inc. (MTDME), a Malaysian company, and 20-percent by Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC).  The STOA gave a 25-year concession of Slex rehabilitation, expansion, operation and maintenance to SLTC. “The TRB committed grave abuse of discretion by entering into STOA which fixes the toll rates without prior notice and public hearing as mandated in Section 3(d) of PD No.1112,” Casino said yesterday..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100814hed2.html

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