Extended concession deal with SMC eyed amid free Skyway toll due to EDSA rehab
The Department of Transportation said Tuesday the government is eyeing to extend the concession agreement of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Skyway Stage 3 amid the upcoming implementation of toll holiday in some segments of the expressway due to the EDSA rehabilitation program.
Facing the Senate public services committee, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said this is one of the options they are discussing with the Ramon Ang-led company to provide 'reprieve' to SMC as the Skyway Stage 3 will serve as an alternate route for motorists that are barred to ply through EDSA.
'One option that we're looking at is to extend the concession term of the operator para hindi naman po mabibigatan ang San Miguel dahil mayroon naman pong reprieve sa kanya. At the same time, wala pong kailangang ilabas na pondo ang gobyerno in terms of subsidy,' Dizon said.
(One option that we're looking at is to extend the concession term of the operator to give reprieve to San Miguel and at the same time, there would be no subsidies that the government will shoulder.)
San Miguel Holdings Corporation Assistant Vice President and Corporate Affairs Head Melissa Encanto-Tagarda said that they are just 'ironing the details with the DOTr' regarding the proposed extension of the concession agreement.
'We're open to the remedies that can be done like what Sec. Vince said, extending the concession agreement for as long as its fair to San Miguel since PPP (Public-Private Partnership) kami meron kaming in-invest (we also invested) into that project. But we're ironing out the details with DOTR so we could make it easy for everyone especially for the commuter,' she said.
Asked if there would be increase in toll so SMC could gain its revenue losses due to the toll holiday, Dizon said there will be none.
'Hindi nag-agree ang Pangulo d'yan,' Dizon said, referring to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
(The President did not agree to that.)
'Kaya nga po ang gagawin natin dito ay walang increases…apart from the regular [scheduled] increases,' he said.
(That's why we made sure that there will be no increases apart from the regular scheduled hike in toll fees.)
On Monday, the DOTr announced that parts of Skyway Stage 3 will waive the toll so motorists could use it as an alternate route amid the implementation of the odd-even scheme on EDSA during the rehabilitation.
The dry run for the odd-even scheme on EDSA will start on June 16 and will last for a month but the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it may further be extended.
The rehabilitation of EDSA is expected to last until 2027, with its preparatory works set to begin on the night of June 13, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).—AOL, GMA Integrated News
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