PUVs, freight services granted toll discount for 2 months

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

March 21, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Starting March 23, toll concessionaires will implement discounts for the transport sector, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday.

Public utility vehicles (PUVs), public utility buses (PUBs) and vehicles involved in freight services will be granted a two-month reprieve in toll rates, as private concessionaires implement discounts in major tollways.

According to the DOTr, the move follows President Marcos’ directive to the agency to find ways to “alleviate the effects of soaring gas prices to the transport sector amid the Middle East crisis.”

In his letter to DOTr chief Giovanni Lopez, Toll Regulatory Board executive director Jay Art Tugade said, “Tollway concessionaires/operators expressed that they will voluntarily implement a temporary toll discount for essential transport sectors.”

The toll rate adjustments will apply to Class 1 PUVs/Jeepneys, Class 2 PUBs and Class 3 vehicles engaged in freight services, including those involved in logistics and the movement of essential goods.

Lopez said the toll discounts will support the country’s general welfare by stabilizing commuter fares and the cost of goods and commodities.

“We are grateful to San Miguel Corp., Mr. Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), Mr. Manny Pangilinan, because this is a great help to our PUV drivers, commuters, as well as our consumers and businessmen despite the oil crisis we are facing today,” he said.

The discount will be implemented for an initial period of two months and may be extended subject to review, the agency noted.

With the adjusted toll rates, Class 1 vehicles can save up to P18 per end-to-end trip, while Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles may save as much as P47 and P72 per trip, respectively.

“Toll discounts will be provided through rebates, which will be credited weekly to all qualified vehicles,” the DOTr said.

In a statement, MPTC said their North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) KaBiyahe toll rebate program, which will be implemented from March 23 to May 22, will benefit accredited Class 2 PUBs and modernized jeepneys, as well as Class 3 vehicles.

The tollway company said qualified transport owners can receive toll rebates ranging from P12 to P72 per passage, depending on the vehicle class and entry/exit points along NLEX.

For Class 3 vehicles to avail of the program, it must be a valid Easytrip subscriber in good standing with sufficient load; not enrolled in any other toll rebate or discount programs on MPTC expressways, such as the toll exemption for agricultural trucks.

For PUBs and modernized jeepneys to qualify, it must enroll in the KaBiyahe program by emailing required documents to [email protected]; be accredited operators registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; be an Easytrip pre-paid account subscriber in good standing with sufficient load and not enrolled in any other toll discount programs on MPTC toll roads.

The application period for PUBs and modernized jeepneys is from March 23 to April 5.

For complete guidelines or inquiries, visit the NLEX Corp. official Facebook page or call the MPTC Hotline at 1-35000. — Ramon Efren Lazaro, Mark Ernest Villeza