A lawmaker is pushing for a measure mandating toll-free holidays on Christmas and New Year’s eves.
Liberal Party Rep. Eric Olivarez of Parañaque City said his House Bill 1169, or the Toll Free Holiday Act of 2016, seeks to give a toll-free holiday starting 10 p.m. on December 24 until 6 a.m. on December 25 and from 10 p.m. on December 31 until 6 a.m. on January 1.
Olivarez said there are several major expressways in Luzon, such as Cavite Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, Skyway, Star Tollway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, being managed by different tollway operators under the control and supervision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
“The toll-free eves on Christmas and New Year have been a tradition of tollway operators of the Skyway System, South Luzon Expressway and Star Tollway for many years, as a way of expressing their gratitude to the motoring patrons and as part of their corporate social responsibility,” Olivarez said.
As a way of giving back to the public, all tollway operators, through this bill, Olivarez said, are mandated not to collect fees.
Under the bill, all tollway operators may claim as tax deduction the actual cost of the implementation of the act.
“Within 90 days from the effectivity of this act, the TRB shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for carry out the objectives of this act,” the bill said.
