In anticipation of the increased volume of visitors driving to the Subic Bay Freeport this Holy Week, the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) will be implementing an integrated toll fee payments starting April 16.
Under this scheme, all vehicles going to the Subic Freeport using the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) will pay the combined toll fees for SFEX and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) at the SCTEX Tipo collection plaza from April 16 to the 20.
MNTC, which operates SFEX, SCTEX and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), said the special privilege for Subic-bound motorists is in response to a request of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for a designated special lane.
“We have been implementing this annually, basically to address the concern of SBMA,” MNTC said.
The temporary toll fee collection system is expected to free the motorists of hassles brought about by long lines of vehicles at the toll plaza during the peak of the Lenten Season.
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the with the anticipated influx of vehicular traffic in Subic this summer vacation, especially during the Holy Week, the integrated toll fees system “will provide comfortable travel experience for motorists going to Subic.”
He also expressed his appreciation to the MNTC management for its support.
Garcia also said that the Subic Bay Freeport community has prepared a week-long program of activities for visitors to Subic to have a meaningful Holy Week observance while enjoying the Freeport's best facilities and services.
The SBMA official, however, noted that almost all of the hotels and housing facilities in the Freeport area have already been fully booked for the summer vacation, as most of the rooms have been reserved as early as January.
The week-long Lenten program in Subic will start on April 13, or Palm Sunday, with the reenactment of the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem.
This will be followed by “Pabasa sa Freeport,” the chanting of life, passion and death of Jesus Christ starting on Holy Monday (April 14-15), procession on Holy Wednesday, Grand Procession on Good Friday, “Salubong” on Easter Sunday, and the Stations of the Cross and the Veneration of the Cross.
A free musical healing concert dubbed “The Mysteries of Sorrows and Five Wounds of Jesus” organized by the Bethesda Spring of Hope ministry for Good Friday will feature Karylle and Yael Yuzon of Spongecola, Boots Anson Roa, Jose Mari Chan, Tina Monzon-Palma, Ku Aquino, Gino Padilla and many others at Subic’s Boardwalk area.
On the Black Saturday, visitors will be treated to the opening of food, souvenir and specialty shops at the Boardwalk area, followed by the grand championship round for dance and acoustic band competitions.
To cap the Holy Week activities, the SBMA will be offering the Subic Bay Easter Egg Hunt for children after the morning mass on Sunday at the San Roque Chapel. Gifts, awards and other surprises donated by Freeport businessmen await lucky egg hunters. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)
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