Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the tollways arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is open to offering free tolls along the 8-kilometer NLEX Connector.

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Meralco annual stockholders meeting on Tuesday, MPIC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said he had asked MPTC to follow San Miguel’s move.

“San Miguel would offer Stage-3 Skyway for free. I think we also have (NLEX) Connector. Maybe we should do the same thing. I have to talk to our tollways to follow San Miguel's lead. I think we should,” Pangilinan said.

The potential toll-free use of the road follows San Miguel Corp.’s free toll for the Skyway Stage 3 during the EDSA rehabilitation period.

The NLEX Connector, which links Caloocan to the Sta. Mesa area in Manila provides an alternative north-south route and connects the North Luzon Expressway to key Metro Manila roads, helping decongest major thoroughfares like EDSA.

The preparatory work for the EDSA rehabilitation begins on the night of 13 June, with the full project expected to last until 2027.