After confusion ensued, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang clarified that Skyway 3 will remain open.

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Skyway O&M Corporation, a unit of SMC, tweeted on Monday night, March 15, saying that Skyway 3 will be “closed indefinitely” starting 5 pm on Tuesday, March 16, because of a directive by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

But the TRB said in a statement that it “did not issue” any directive ordering the closure of the expressway.

The motoring public was confused by the two conflicting statements.

When asked whether Skyway 3 will remain open, Ang told Rappler, “No closure.”

Despite the confusion, TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz said he is “not aware of any misunderstanding” between SMC and the TRB.

“But [I’m] glad the matter has been resolved with the statement of Mr RSA (Ang) that there will be no closure of Skyway Stage 3,” Corpuz told Rappler.

In a statement later on Tuesday, SMC said the misunderstanding with the TRB stemmed from the latter’s “inaction” on the issuance of a toll operation permit for Skyway 3.

“Basically, TRB is insisting that Skyway 3 cannot start full operations and collect toll until all ramps are 100% complete. Our supplemental toll operation agreement states that we can start collecting at 95% completion – we are now 97% complete,” Ang said.

The business magnate added that SMC needs the funds for the upkeep of the expressway, adding that losses “have been mounting” because of the delay in the permit issuance.

“As Skyway 3’s losses have been mounting because TRB keeps delaying the start of toll collection, the quickest way for our infrastructure unit to speed up 100% completion of the ramps would have been to close Skyway 3,” said Ang, explaining the reason behind the closure announcement.

The expressway remains toll-free, pending regulatory approval of rates proposed by SMC.

SMC is proposing toll fees ranging from P110 to P274. Ang said revenues would be “significantly lower” at P4 billion per year, given that the annual cost of operating the toll road is pegged at P10 billion.

Skyway 3, which was funded and built by SMC, was partially opened last December 29, while the full stretch became accessible to the public in January. – Rappler.com