Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Alvin Carullo (DOTr photo)
MANILA – The newly appointed head of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) is eyeing to fast-track the ongoing and planned toll road projects and review pending applications for toll rate increases.
Executive director Alvin Carullo, appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte last March 15, replaced former TRB chief Abraham Sales who resigned in January, and DOTr Assistant Secretary Giovanni Lopez who became the TRB’s officer-in-charge while waiting for Sales’ replacement.
Carullo said Tuesday the TRB needed an “effective and proactive regulation” of existing toll road facilities through “responsive policies” and emphasized the need to expedite the completion of toll road projects.
“I intend to inculcate the culture of competence, integrity, and good public service in the TRB,” Carullo said.
Among his plans include increasing the number of TRB personnel to ensure the efficient performance of the agency's toll regulatory functions and to promote the “professional welfare” of its workforce.
He said he would also review pending applications of toll operators for toll rate increases, noting there will be “just and reasonable” toll rates through a transparent consultation.
“Toll rates should not be too low as to be confiscatory nor so high as to be oppressive,” Carullo said.
In December last year, Sales was questioned by senators during a Senate public services committee hearing over issues in the implementation of the cashless toll collection in Luzon expressways.
Duterte also previously told TRB officials to resign for allowing toll operators to implement “flawed” radio-frequency identification installation systems that resulted in massive traffic jams. (PNA)
