San Miguel Corp. (SMC) yesterday said it has waived toll fees at the South Luzon expressway (SLEx) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) for all vehicles involved in relief efforts following the eruption of Taal Volcano.
Last week, SMC’s tollways unit announced it has waived toll fees for southbound government vehicles carrying volunteers, equipment and relief goods. Private vehicles being used to deliver relief goods were also allowed to pass for free, with proper advance coordination with the tollway management.
To further hasten the delivery of relief goods to the affected areas, SMC Tollways has advised motorists carrying relief goods to stop at the following inspection sites: Petron Silangan/KM 44, Mayapa entry, Batino entry and Calamba/Real entry for SLEx southbound; Sto. Tomas entry for STAR southbound; and STAR northbound entry locations – Batangas, Ibaan, Lipa, Toribio, Malvar and Tanauan.
A toll supervisor, accompanied by a traffic enforcer, will then inspect the vehicle and issue a free single exit pass. This pass should only be surrendered at the cash lanes where the vehicle will be exiting.
“This is part of our wide-ranging efforts across the San Miguel Group to help our countrymen, through our own relief operations, and by supporting and enabling others who also want to help,” said Ramon Ang, SMC president.
SMC to date has provided over P23 million in relief goods and donations to those affected by the eruption. These include food items such as rice, canned goods, coffee, biscuits, milk, and eggs, among others. Its food unit, San Miguel Foods, accounts for the bulk of food donations.
SMC has also immediately provided food, facemasks, blankets, sleeping mats, and clothing, to thousands of victims in evacuation areas and in affected communities when the volcano erupted January 12.
SMC’s own employee donation drive has also yielded various quantities of other necessities such as clothes, toiletries, sanitary napkins, footwear, detergent, powder, and sanitizing alcohol.
