MANILA, March 25 -- The chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development on Monday recommended reducing tollway rates at the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 to alleviate traffic congestion along EDSA.

Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano made the statement in reaction to the call of the business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) for the government to declare a "state of traffic calamity" in Metro Manila.

Valeriano said Skyway 3 rates are unaffordable to the average motorist, especially given high fuel prices these days.

He appealed to Skyway 3 owner and operator San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to find ways to cut toll prices so that more motorists, cargo vehicles, and prov...