House panel OKs interconnection of expressways

MANILA, Philippines - The committee on transportation of the House of Representatives has endorsed a bill requiring the interconnection of expressways to ensure seamless travel.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, approved House Bill 6287 authored by Pampanga Rep. Joseller Guiao.

“Expressways serve as vital links to and from Metro Manila. They provide the fastest and most convenient way of transportation for people as well as for goods and services. It is therefore imperative that access to these highways for motorists should be as easy and as seamless as possible,” he said.

Guiao said the bill seeks to ease the burden of motorists using expressways by mandating toll operators to interconnect by, among others, integrating their payment systems through a single ticketing system or the mandatory interoperability of toll electronic cards.

The Toll Regulatory Board will be tasked to draft implementing rules and regulations to iron out potential technical difficulties that may arise from the interconnection.

The toll roads north of Metro Manila are the North Luzon Expressway, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

In the south, the toll roads are the South Luzon Expressway, Skyway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road and Manila-Cavite Expressway.