The Skyway Stage 3 will remain open to motorists, announced San Miguel Corporation president Ramon Ang today, March 16, despite an earlier announcement stating that they would indefinitely close the toll road.
"Skyway 3 will remain open," San Miguel Corporation president Ramon S. Ang said in a statement. There was a misunderstanding between their infrastructure unit and the Toll Regulatory Board resulting in the confusing statements earlier today.
"Basically, TRB is insisting that Skyway 3 cannot start full operations and collect toll until all ramps are 100% complete. Our supplemental toll operation agreement states that we can start collecting at 95% completion - we are now 97% complete," added Ang. He added that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) needs enough funds for the tollroads upkeep.
"As Skyway 3’s losses have been mounting because TRB keeps delaying the start of toll collection, the quickest way for our infrastructure unit to speed up 100% completion of the ramps would have been to close Skyway 3," said the SMC chief. Ang and Arthur Tugade, transport department head, have since discussed the issue and agreed to keep the skyway open.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) released a statement today, March 16, saying that the "DID NOT ISSUE a decision or directive ordering the indefinite closure" of Skyway Stage 3. They added that "the position of the TRB and its management is to keep Skyway Stage 3 OPEN for the benefit of all motorists."
In a now-deleted tweet posted on March 15, San Miguel Corporation (SMC)—whose infrastructure arm operates the toll road—announced Skyway Stage 3's indefinite closure "in accordance with the Toll Regulatory Board." According to the announcement, SMC had "no choice but to comply" and that they would reopen "until all ramps are open." The indefinite closure was originally scheduled for today, March 16 at 5 p.m.
The Skyway Stage 3 left motorists in awe when it soft-opened in December 2020, allowing them to cross Metro Manila from north to south in less than half an hour. In February, San Miguel Corporation opened two new access ramps: the A. Bonifacio northbound off-ramp, just before the Cloverleaf Mall in Balintawak, and the E. Rodriguez southbound off-ramp on Araneta Avenue, right at the border of Quezon City and Manila, which also provides access to España.
UPDATE (March 16, 2021): The article has been updated following a statement from the San Miguel Corporation.
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