STAR Tollway, SLEX toll rates to increase starting July 1

Heads up if you're driving south this week: toll fees on SLEX and STAR are about to climb again.

The Toll Regulatory Board confirmed that the second round of toll hikes for both expressways kicks in on July 1. This follows the first round of adjustments that already rolled out back in January, so this marks the second leg of a planned two-part increase.

Drivers running the full SLEX stretch from Alabang to Sto. Tomas will feel the pinch most. Class 1 vehicles are looking at P14 more, Class 2 owners get hit with P27 extra, and Class 3 vehicles climb by P41.

Breaking it down by segment, the Alabang to Calamba leg will now cost P137 for Class 1, P274 for Class 2, and P411 for Class 3. Continue onward from Calamba to Sto. Tomas and you're paying P37, P74, or P111 depending on your vehicle class.

Over on STAR Tollway, the increases are a bit gentler but still noticeable. End-to-end trips will go up by P8, P17, and P26 across the three vehicle classes.

Section 1, covering Sto. Tomas to Lipa, will run P64 for Class 1, P128 for Class 2, and P192 for Class 3. Push further into Section 2, from Lipa to Batangas City, and rates land at P57, P114, and P171, accordingly.

Travel the entire STAR route from Sto. Tomas to Batangas City and the new totals come out to P121, P242, and P363 by class.

For context, SLEX stretches 36 km connecting Muntinlupa City to Santo Tomas in Batangas, functioning as one of the busiest arteries linking Metro Manila to Laguna and Batangas. STAR Tollway, meanwhile, covers 42 km between Santo Tomas and Batangas City. 

If you’re among those who frequently use these routes, you might want to budget accordingly for your trip tomorrow.