Heads up: TRB approves higher toll rates at SCTEX

Motorists and truckers who frequently take the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will have to shell out more when they use the toll road. This comes after NLEX Corporation announced that the Toll Regulatory Board recently approved the collection of 2^nd tranche of periodic toll rate adjustments for the expressway.

Based on the newly approved toll rate adjustment, an additional 0.64 per km for Class 1 vehicles, PHP 1.29 per km for Class 2 vehicles, and PHP 1.93 per km for Class 3 vehicles will take effect starting tomorrow, November 19, 2024. The additional rates followed strict compliance with regulatory procedures, underwent thorough review, and were part of the approved periodic adjustments of SCTEX due in 2021 and 2023.

The toll rate hike was deferred and divided into three tranches that will be collected over three years to help curb inflationary strains and ease the impact on expressway users. The 1^st tranche was approved and took effect last October 17, 2023.

With the toll rate hike set to come into effect on November 19, Class 1 vehicles traveling from Mabalacat to Tarlac will have to pay an additional PHP 25. Meanwhile, Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles will need to shell out an extra PHP 50 and PHP 75, respectively. On the other hand, motorists traveling between Mabalacat and Tipo, Hermosa in Bataan (near Subic Freeport) will be charged an additional PHP 41, PHP 81, and PHP 121, for Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 vehicles, accordingly.

Those heading to Tarlac or Bataan-Subic via SCTEX starting tomorrow are advised to top up their Easytrip RFID accounts and take note of the increased toll rates.