Tollway holiday certain

In all likelihood, their operators will open the tollways for free during the rebuilding of the metro’s key roadway, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), which is scheduled to start on 13 June and is expected to take at least two years to complete.

During his recent visit to the DAILY TRIBUNE, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the government is leaning towards an extension of their concession agreements rather than direct compensation or subsidy to Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and San Miguel Corp.

Among the options considered to relieve the financial burden on the road builders are financial reprieves, toll rate adjustments, or granting new infrastructure contracts.

The government aims to strike a balance between the operators’ revenue losses and the public’s need for traffic relief during the EDSA reconstruction.

Most parts of EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, will be closed beginning 13 June. To prevent a two-year carmageddon, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) have proposed waiving toll fees on select segments of the NLEX Connector and Skyway Stage 3 roadways, respectively.

Extending concession periods is a common mechanism in public-private partnerships when operators face revenue shortfalls due to government-mandated actions, such as toll waivers.

The measure avoids a cash payout and aligns with long-term infrastructure deals. A possible sweetener is a favorable nod from the government to future toll rate adjustments.

MPTC and SMC had previously sought compensation for delayed toll rate adjustments.

As part of their compensation, the Toll Regulatory Board could approve future toll rate increases or expedite pending adjustments for other expressways operated by MPTC and SMC. TDT

‘Palengke’ tourism

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has taken a new tack to draw visitors by promoting public markets as heritage and cultural sites and making them more environment-friendly with a program called Market or Palengke Tourism.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the new program is part of the government’s Strategic Framework and Roadmap for Food and Gastronomy Tourism.

Frasco said market tourism handbooks will be distributed to local governments so they can attract more tourists with Filipino food culture and history.

The idea is to appreciate local markets not as mere venues for commerce and trade but also as cultural landmarks.

“In Baguio, our pilot program has proven how a public market can become both a heritage site and an economic engine,” Frasco said.

“The market tourism handbook will equip local government units across the country to develop similar models,” she added.

The handbook was created, she said, following research and conversations with chefs, farmers, fisherfolk, historians, tour guides, and travel operators.

“It’s a bottom-up strategy created with the people who know our food best,” Frasco said.

From Ayala Malls Manila Bay, the Tourism chief went on a food tour of Malabon City, which was founded more than four centuries ago under Rajah Soliman and is considered a major fishing community as it lies near Manila Bay.

Frasco said that luring tourists to the public markets would also increase job opportunities for communities across the country.

“Malabon City tells a powerful story about the Filipino identity and where every recipe holds memories, where every bite carries history,” she said.

“Today we honor vendors, cooks, families, generations, and the people of Malabon who have kept these culinary traditions alive,” she added.

Frasco tasted several dishes and desserts made by some of Malabon’s famous family-owned restaurants. These included Jay-R’s Okoy, Nanay’s Pancit Malabon, Ellet’s Halo-Halo, Dolor’s Kakanin, and Hazel’s Puto.

“Through these initiatives, we hope to empower communities to showcase their unique identities and support their livelihood,” she said of the new DoT thrust.