The Philippines’ leading tollway operators have announced a temporary toll rebate program for public utility vehicles (PUVs) and freight trucks, effective starting Monday, March 23, in a move to shield the transport sector from the impact of soaring global oil prices.
The initiative follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement non-cash interventions that can stabilize the cost of commuting and the price of essential goods.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure—the concessionaires for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and other major expressways—have agreed to a voluntary two-month rebate period. This program effectively rolls back toll rates to levels seen before the most recent adjustments.
Under the program, qualified operators will receive weekly rebates credited directly to their RFID accounts. The savings per trip are categorized as follows:
- Class 1 (Jeepneys and Modernized Jeepneys): Savings of up to ₱18 per end-to-end trip.
- Class 2 (Public Utility Buses): Savings of up to ₱47 per trip.
- Class 3 (Freight and Logistics Trucks): Savings of up to ₱72 per trip.
The relief extends across the major arteries of Luzon:
- NLEX and SCTEX: MPTC is launching the “KaBiyahe Rebate Program” for accredited Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles. Traditional jeepneys on northern routes will continue to benefit from the existing PASSADA program.
- SLEX and STAR Tollway: SMC Infrastructure will provide rebates to PUVs and cargo trucks, partially offsetting the toll hikes implemented earlier this year.
- CAVITEX: The “Abante Program” has been reactivated to provide specialized relief for jeepneys traversing the coastal road.
The move comes as Middle East tensions have driven diesel and gasoline prices to double-digit hikes over the past two weeks.
“We thank our partners at San Miguel and Metro Pacific for their cooperation,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez. “These discounts are a huge relief for our drivers and will help prevent a spike in the retail prices of basic commodities that rely on these expressways for distribution.”
To qualify for the rebates, operators must:
- Be registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
- Maintain an active Easytrip or Autosweep account in good standing.
- Apply for enrollment (for buses and modern jeepneys) between March 23 and April 5, 2026.
- Maintain a clean traffic record; citations or violations during the program period will result in disqualification.
The DOTr noted that while the program is initially set for 60 days, it remains subject to review and potential extension depending on the volatility of global oil prices.
