MPTC Eyes Toll Holiday on NLEX Connector Amid EDSA Rehabilitation

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is in talks with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) about implementing a toll holiday along the NLEX Connector to help ease congestion during the upcoming EDSA rehabilitation.

MPTC President Jose Ma. Lim confirmed the ongoing coordination, following business magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan’s suggestion to align with San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) move to suspend tolls on parts of Skyway Stage 3 affected by the roadworks.

The NLEX Connector, an 8-kilometer elevated expressway, links NLEX’s Harbor Link in Caloocan to Sta. Mesa, Manila, running along the Philippine National Railway’s right-of-way.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon previously announced that toll fees would be waived in affected Skyway areas starting July or August, coinciding with EDSA’s two-year rehabilitation. A 24-hour odd-even number coding scheme is also set to launch, with a dry run beginning June 16.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said preparatory works for the EDSA project will start the evening of June 13 and continue until 2027. To help commuters, the government will also add 100 buses along the EDSA Busway and deploy more MRT3 train sets.

MPTC operates several major toll roads, including SCTEX, CAVITEX, CALAX, and CCLEX, aside from NLEX and the NLEX Connector.