February 09, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Two Mindanao congressmen urged Congress yesterday to grant a 20-percent discount on private vehicles with at least four passengers using the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Metro Manila Skyway, and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

In filing House Bill 3932, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents the party-list group Abante Mindanao, said the discount would be timely in the wake of the impending huge increase in toll rates.

“Motorists will be affected by the upcoming toll hikes in these major arteries connecting Metro Manila to southern and northern provinces now that the Supreme Court has given the go-signal for the regulatory body to proceed with increases ranging from 250 percent to 300 percent,” they said.

“As such, to encourage carpooling and to help our motorists in absorbing the flow of the increased toll rates, there should be a discount given to private vehicles with at least four passengers on board,” the two said.

“This would hopefully decrease the number of vehicles plying these expressways, which would result in lesser air pollution,” they added.

The two Mindanao lawmakers noted that some 158,000 vehicles use NLEX every day, while 160,000 ply the ground level of SLEX and 30,000 vehicles use the elevated Skyway.

On the other hand, 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles use the SCTEX every day.

The Rodriguez brothers said giving a discount on loaded vehicles would not only result in lesser pollution but fuel conservation as well.

People would be forced to plan their trips or avoid unnecessary travel, they said.

They cited a recent report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that motor vehicles are the main source of air pollution in Metro Manila.

Toll rates at the South and North Luzon expressways are expected to go up once 2011 kicks in next week.

The huge adjustment in the south was granted to allow investors to recoup their investments in expanding and upgrading the highway.

In the north, the expressway had been upgraded several years ago. Motorists using the NLEX are wondering why the concessionaire has been allowed to adjust rates since fees should decrease over time as investors recover their money.

They noted that when the Lopez family was still the concessionaire and Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus was their administrator of the highway, rates were once reduced.

The Lopezes have sold their interests in the concession to the Metro Pacific Group of Indonesian investors, represented here by businessman Manuel Pangilinan.

The NLEX concession gives investors about P5 billion in annual net profits.

New NLEX toll rates

Starting Jan. 1, a new toll rate schedule provisionally approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) will be implemented at NLEX.

The TRB approved a toll increase of approximately 12 percent sought by the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), the first-ever to be implemented since the 94-kilometer world-class tollway opened in 2005.

In a statement, MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said the new toll rates are still lower than the initial rates introduced in 2005, on account of two rate reductions in January 2007 and July 2008.

The new matrix authorized by the TRB provides toll for Class 1 vehicles of P2.38 per kilometer under the closed system, and P41 per entry under the open system.

For Class 2 vehicles, the rates are P5.95 per km for the closed system and P102 per entry for the open system, while for Class 3, the rates are P7.14 per km for the closed system and P122 for the open system.

For the entire 94-km run between Balintawak and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Class 1 vehicles would have to pay P195. Class 2 will be charged P486 from end to end, and Class 3, a total of P583.

MNTC, builder and franchise holder of NLEX, initially charged Class 1 vehicles (cars, jeepneys, etc.) P42 in the open system and P2.48 per km for the closed system when the rehabilitated NLEX began commercial operations in February 2005.

NLEX’s introductory rates were slashed in 2007 and 2008.

Franco said the latest toll adjustments fall within the parameters of MNTC’s supplemental toll operation agreement with the TRB. “The level of our toll rates remains very reasonable,” he said.

Franco vowed that the toll hike “will redound to more improvements of ground and roadside services at the NLEX meant to enhance further the safety and comfort of motorists and travelers alike.”

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=643397&publicationSubCategoryId=67

The resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines are, to many, a fine example to leisure lifestyle of suburban city in America. In the top resorts of Clark Pampanga, lake, beach, 13 hectares of picnic grounds covered with trees and green all put together to deliver a memorable getaway experience for foreign tourists visiting Angeles City Clark Philippines and residents of Manila driving up to Clark for a day trip or a weekend family outing. The beach resorts, leisure parks and vacation hotels in Clark Pampanga offer a unique ambience that supports a laidback relaxing lifestyle. Many visitors travel north to Clark Pampanga from Manila to unwind and relax in these resorts.

Family with children can enjoy the picnic grounds and several large and small spots for swimming and water sports inside this resort in Pampanga. Parents can enjoy a day in leisure and relaxation in the shade provided by large Acacia trees throughout this resort. The ambience and beautiful view of the outdoor facilities of this beach resort in Clark Pampanga attracts visitors to go out of town from Manila for a getaway in the north.

Does anyone know how difficult it is to find a decent beach wedding venue in the Philippines? Sure, there are a lot of beautiful beaches but to find a beach where we can have a wedding ceremony in Philippines is next to impossible.

Beach wedding venue is very popular in Manila, Subic, Pampanga Angeles City and
Clark Philippines. Young wedding couples prefer outdoor beach wedding followed up by garden styled outdoor wedding receptions in Philippines. Best beach wedding venue in Philippines is Clearwater Resort wedding venues near Manila, Angeles City, Clark Philippines.

Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX from Manila to Clark is always light and the new Subic Tarlac Clark Expressway ScTex takes visitors straight into Clark Freeport without going through any towns and cities along the way.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets http://www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com