(NI NOEL ABUEL)

IPINADEDEKLARA ni Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III na gawing libre ang pagbabayad ng toll fee  sa panahon ng holidays o walang pasok.

Paliwanag ng senador malaking ginhawa sa mga commuters kung walang babayarang toll sa North Expressway (NLEX) at South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) tuwing holidays.

“This will ensure smooth travel through the North Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and other connecting toll highways,” sabi ni Sotto sa inihain nitong Senate Bill No. 2220.

Sa ilalim ng nasabing panukala aamyendahan nito ang ilang probisyon ng Presidential Decree 1112, ang batas na bumubuo Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), partikular sa Section 6 na tanging ang mga government vehicles na may official business ang exempted sa pagbabayad toll fees.

“With all the negative impact that the worsening traffic situation in the country has brought to its people, providing solution to the condition even on certain days could really ease the burden on the affected Filipinos,” ayon pa sa Senate President.

“Other than the financial losses incurred and will be incurred, traffic congestion affects one’s health, work performance and even relationships, causes pollution, road rage and accidents. Thus, it affects the quality of life in general,” dagdag pa nito.

Paliwanag ni Sotto, base sa isinagawang pag-aaral ng global firm Boston Consulting Group, nagpapakita na ang Metro Manila ang ikatlo sa listahan ng pinakamasamang traffic situation sa buong Southeast Asia.

Lumabas din sa pag-aaral ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), na nawawalan ng P3.5 bilyon kada araw ang Pilipinas dahil sa masamang traffic situation sa bansa.