MORE NEWS, PAMPANGA

No increase in toll rates, firm assures
By George Trillo

CLARK FEEPORT — Executives of the Manila North Tollways Corp. said toll rates in the North and South Luzon Expressway will not be increased despite the global economic crisis.

MNTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco told Pampanga-based journalists during a briefing here the company will increase toll fees only in 2011 as per agreement with the Toll Regulatory Board.

Franco said toll rates will remain the same despite the effects of the global economic crunch in the industrial and commercial sectors.

Meanwhile, Franco announced that MNTC is working on Phase 2 of the Manila North Expressway project which is seen to "complement and advance the crucial role of the existing North Luzon Expressway as infrastructure backbone to the Central and Northern Luzon regions."

"The project, composed of three phases, is expected to make the Central and Northern Luzon regions key beneficiaries of economic and development growth in the coming years," Franco said.

Phase 1 of the MNE project, funded with R18 billion, was completed in February, 2005. It consists of the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing 84-kilometer NLEX.
Phase 2 calls for the construction of the 16-kilometer Circumferential Road (C-5) which will connect the C-5 Road to NLEx and onward.

Franco said that Phase 2 is segment 8.1, which is seen as an integral part of the project and a vital road infrastructure that will help decongest Metro Manila by providing an alternative east and west access to NLEx, bypassing EDSA and the Balintawak toll plaza.