A measure seeking to reduce tollway fees by as much as 70 percent has been filed by Zambales 1st District Representative and Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun, in response to the rise in fuel prices across the country.
Under the proposed “Tollway Fee Reduction Act,” or House Bill No. 8652, Khonghun is pushing for an immediate 50 percent reduction in toll fees during the first year of implementation, followed by an additional 20 percent reduction in the succeeding year.
The proposal covers Class 3 vehicles transporting essential goods and commodities, Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) serving passengers, and vehicles traveling during off-peak hours.
According to the lawmaker, the measure aims to provide immediate relief and a long-term solution to rising transportation costs, amid surging oil and fuel prices driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The transport sector including motorists, commuters, and logistics operators has been among the hardest hit.
Rising transportation costs, he noted, have also contributed to increasing prices of basic goods, slower economic activity, and adverse effects on public welfare.
Ang mataas na singil sa tollway ay lalo pang nagpapabigat sa gastusin sa pagbiyahe ng mga produkto at pasahero kung kaya’t dapat bigyan prayoridad ang ilang sektor upang lubos na maramdaman ang benepisyo ng pagbawas sa toll fee.” Khonghun said
