Commuters who take the Skyway in southern Metro Manila reported longer commutes since Saturday when new toll booths were installed.
Instead of stopping one time to pay the toll, drivers would have to stop twice. First, to pay the toll, and then later again to submit a receipt for the QR code.
— SKYWAY SOMCO (@SkywaySOMCO) January 29, 2018
One netizen pointed out that adding this toll plaza, which was supposed to “improve” traffic flow, added a checkpoint on the Skyway.
Can you explain the logic of adding the runway tollplaza? This is added chokepoint. Imagine all the vehicles using #skyway NB from bicutan, sucat, alabang/south station funneling to 7lane toll plaza. What were you thinking????
— John G (@john_rcg) January 29, 2018
Commuters began comparing the Skyway change, which was one of the few highways that had the least traffic, to the traffic-choked EDSA.
@OfficialSLEX you improved the traffic flow so much i cant see the difference between edsa and skyway anymore good job 👏 pic.twitter.com/JcOXBOByQV
— Joro (@joroquinto) January 28, 2018
And this Spongebob meme seems to captured what many who were stuck in traffic felt.
https://twitter.com/CALSmemaybe/status/957797305012256768
https://twitter.com/amigueldeguzman/status/957844883200339968
https://twitter.com/joroquinto/status/957756551741100033
According to InterAksyon, a commuter reported taking 30 minutes to get from Bicutan to Makati, which took 10-15 minutes prior to the toll gate addition.
Film director Joey Reyes tweeted that it took him 90 minutes from Alabang to the new toll gates, a trip that would normally take 15 minutes.
It took me 90 minutes from Alabang to the new toll booths. I am already late for my meeting & some cretins running the roadway system are befuddled about what they did wrong. Change these idiots!
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) January 29, 2018
Ruffy Biazon, the congressman who represents Muntinlupa City in the House of Representatives, wrote a letter saying he “personally experienced” the horrendous traffic caused by the new system on his way to work in Quezon City from Muntinlupa.
My letter to Skyway O&M Corporation, drafted and signed as soon as I got to the office. Now sending it to them electronically, hard copy to follow. @SkywaySOMCO pic.twitter.com/kKA3IM4l0b
— Ruffy Biazon (@ruffybiazon) January 30, 2018
Coconuts Manila has reached out to Skyways O&M Corp for a statement but has not received a response as of posting time.
In the meantime, keep us updated with how the changes have impacted your commute in the comments below.
