Ducky Paredes

“The elevated section has a limited capacity. The ramps inside the at-grade portion leading to the Skyway will accommodate only one vehicle at a time”

By Ducky Paredes
The idea of reducing rates on a toll road because it is more congested than usual (due to repairs being done on the road) seems logical. After all, since one does not go any faster than on non-toll roads, why should we pay so much on the toll roads. Seems logical, doesn’t it?
It really is not; not when politicians want to reduce the rate by as much as by half or to only 50% of the approved toll rate on the Skyway. The Skyway is not undergoing repairs or improvements; it is the lower, at-grade portions of the toll road that are undergoing repairs and improvements although some of the improvements on the at-grade level would extend the Skyway up to Alabang.
If one cuts the Skyway rates by half, surely, the lower rates will invite more motorists — especially the more adventurous and those always on the lookout for bargains — to use the Skyway. These new users, on top of the usual vehicles using the elevated portion, will stretch the capacity of the Skyway beyond its limits.
Regular customers who regularly travel only the at-grade structures may now also opt to use the elevated structure because of reduced toll rates, adding more vehicles to the already crowded Skyway System.  Even with the present “high” toll rates, the elevated section already draws a lot of motorists.
The elevated section has a limited capacity. The ramps inside the at-grade portion leading to the Skyway will accommodate only one vehicle at a time. More vehicles entering and leaving the Skyway will result in long queues northbound and southbound.
A lower toll rate and the subsequent increase in vehicles will also crowd the Skyway, eventually aggravating the build-up of traffic to the point where it spills over to the at-grade lanes. This will mean that the heavy flow of traffic, instead of just being confined to a limited area (on the elevated structure), as is the case now, will also affect the flow of traffic on the street below.
Infrastructures, such as Skyway, are very costly to build. The current rates, approved by regulatory bodies, were carefully calibrated to ensure that the capital used to build the Skyway could slowly return the invested capital without being too much of a burden for motorists. The current rates are already a compromise between the investors’ needs and the financial capacity of the motorists.  As it is, the project developer still owes some banks a big sum of money that was used to build the Buendia-Bicutan elevated section and rehabilitate the Magallanes-Alabang at-grade section.
Investors should not be discouraged from putting their money in infrastructures in the Philippines. The government cannot just by itself provide the infrastructure needed to create efficient access to and from commercial and industrial areas. Companies that invest in Philippine infrastructures must not be made to reduce their rates to the point where they can no longer support the cost of the infrastructure that they build for the use of millions of Filipinos.
Instead, we must be thankful for their investing in our country and help us achieve progress.
It is hard enough to attract investors who are willing to build infrastructures, especially in the face of the present global economic recession. The government and investors are partners in building structures for today’s Filipinos and future generations.
Building the Skyway extension is a necessary response to the needs of motorists today, as well as in anticipating the increasing volume of motorists who will use the Skyway. As in any kind of adjustment and planning, the regular flow of things will always be disrupted. In Skyway’s case, this means – temporarily — a longer travel time. However, we must all understand that if these works are not done now, motorists will also suffer longer travel times in the future when, inevitably, more vehicles will use the Skyway System, creating very heavy traffic flow.
Let us go beyond looking at the inconveniences of today to the benefits that the Skyway extension will provide in the future. Instead of taxing the investors for discounts, we must support their efforts towards our country’s progress.
For now, motorists should stop complaining and do what they can to help improve the situation. Observe traffic rules.  Plan trips so that you avoid the peak hours, when traffic is heaviest. Cut down on your trips. Make sure that vehicles are in good condition so that there will be no stalled vehicles. Drive carefully to avoid accidents.
The development in the construction at Skyway Stage 2 is pretty amazing. Whenever I go south – usually for a golf game — more columns have been installed. Construction is fast with excavation and installation of the columns going on day and night.
Skyway Stage 2’s project developer, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation, and traffic manager, Skyway O & M Corporation, appear to be doing their best to efficiently respond to the challenges that building the Skyway extension is presenting to the motorists. The work area is always teeming with traffic enforcers who smoothen out the traffic flow. The AAP tow trucks and patrol vehicles are there to help stalled vehicles or those that are involved in accidents.  There are signs  advising motorists about the on-going construction as well as about the traffic conditions. At night, the area is always well-lighted, ensuring the safety of motorists.
There are also hourly cell phone updates on SLEX traffic available. I don’t know why but I get this service on my phone. Too bad that I can’t use the information. I’m on the SLEX only about three days a month.
* * *
Readers who missed a column can access www.duckyparedes.com/blogs. This is updated daily. Your reactions are welcome at duckyparedes@yahoo.com

# # # #
hvp 07.12.09)