20% SLEX, NLEX toll discount sought
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
Best restaurant in Clark Pampanga attracts diners and wine lovers from Manila, Subic and Angeles City Philippines to wine and dine at this fine dining restaurant
More and more, frequent diners from Manila, Angeles City, Subic and other major cities in Asia travel to North Luzon Pampanga Clark Freeport to enjoy good food in a romantic fine dining restaurant. On their list of requirements is a good wine list that not only offers a wide selection of wines from different countries but also older vintages that can be enjoyed now and not ten years later. Classic fine dining is the experience that guests of Clark Pampanga’ Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar offers to their guests. Although this is an upscale fine dining establishment, families find the restaurant to be very children friendly.
Private dinners can be accommodated in this famous restaurant located in Mimosa, at the heart of Pampanga Clark Freeport. Private rooms suitable for 4 to 24 can be reserved in advance for company and personal functions and events. This fine dining restaurant is a very popular venue for small wedding receptions, social events, company board meetings and annual parties.
This fine dining restaurant is also famous for its low carbohydrates “low carb” dishes highly recommended for frequent diners who are on a low fat food and favor healthy food. This is a unique restaurant that can help frequent diners maintain a healthy diet and enjoy delicious fine dining cuisine at the same time. Vegetarian dishes are a specialty here also and so are “halal” cuisines also.
Wine lover’s choice – Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar – for the most impressive and practical wine list in the Philippines, over 2700 selections, enough to satisfy the most fastidious connoisseurs. Wine lovers and gourmand foodies from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia dine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar when they visit Philippines and bring home some rare vintage wines too.
Best place to unwind in Angeles City Pampanga Philippines is to wine and dine at Yats Restaurant which is also considered as the best restaurant in Clark for group dinners, parties and social functions outside of Manila. Guests of this top rated fine dining resto bar in Clark enjoy the cozy ambience, the spacious dining area as well as the privacy and exclusivity of this top restaurant near Manila in Clark. Some guests wine and dine at this famous restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga for its gourmet food. Others frequently dine at this restaurant in Clark for its fine selection of vintage wines that are offered at attractive prices. Some guests, business executives especially, select this restaurant because of its elegant private dining facilities and the attentive and professional service that the staff provide for a more formal business dinner.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Pampanga? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
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
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