North Luzon Expressway (PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/INQUIRER FILES)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The latest increase in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) toll may just burden ordinary Filipinos and worsen inflation, former Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said on Monday.
In a statement, Gaite warned that the toll hike, which took effect Sunday, would lead to higher prices of goods considering that a lot of products and services originate from provinces north of Metro Manila.
Under the new matrix, motorists accessing the open system or from Balintawak to Marilao will now pay P79 for Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs), P199 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks), and P238 for Class 3 vehicles (large trucks). This is an increase of P5 for Class 1, P13 for Class 2, and P15 for Class 3.
鈥淭his toll hike is blatantly inflationary and will inevitably lead to higher prices of basic goods and services. The substantial increases, especially for trucks and delivery vehicles, will definitely be passed on to consumers who are already struggling to make ends meet,鈥� Gaite said.
According to Gaite, who is seeking a return to the House of Representatives for the 2025 midterm elections under Bayan Muna, it is ironic that the toll is quick to rise but salary increases for workers are rare and often unattended.
鈥淲hen workers ask for significant wage increases like the P750 wage hike or even the P200 wage increase already passed in Congress, the Marcos administration has many reasons to block it. But when big capitalists demand fee increases, they almost certainly grant them,鈥� he said Filipino.
Aside from an increase in the open system, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) also approved a toll increase for end-to-end travel, or from Balintawak to Sta. Ines in Pampanga. It will cost P416 for Class 1, P1,039 for Class 2, and P1,247 for Class 3. This is an increase of P57 for Class 1, P142 for Class 2, and P171 for Class 3.
READ: NLEx toll hike takes effect March 2
The last time that NLEx increased its toll was in June 2024.
According to NLEx Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the increase will help recoup investments in recent years, which include more roadworks and other infrastructure projects.
On the other hand, significant wage hikes have been hard to come by. Last February 3, the House approved on second reading a bill proposing a P200-per-day increase for minimum wages.
The proposed salary increase for minimum wage earners is higher than what the Senate has approved. Last February 2024, Senate Bill No. 2534 which proposes a P100-daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers was approved on third and final reading.
However, the House will not approve the bill on the third and final reading until Congress resumes its session on June 2.
READ: House OKs P200 minimum wage hike bill on 2nd reading
Gaite believes the Marcos administration should suspend the NLEx toll hike as it will have a significant effect on goods brought into and out of Metro Manila and southern Luzon areas.
鈥淭he additional P142 for buses and small trucks and P171 for large trucks for end-to-end travel will significantly impact the cost of transporting goods and people. Basic commodities from Central and Northern Luzon will become more expensive in Metro Manila, while products from Manila will cost more in the provinces,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his is just the beginning of a series of increases that will further burden our people. The Marcos administration should immediately suspend this anti-people toll hike and prioritize the welfare of ordinary Filipinos over corporate profits,鈥� he added.