MALACAÑANG rejected a proposal for the government to initiate a toll holiday on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), saying the move could worsen congestion as flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains rendered portions of the expressway impassable.
At a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Press Officer Claire Castro said any initiative to waive toll fees should come from NLEX operator Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).
‘NLEX is well aware of what happened here and what their responsibilities are; this directive should come from them,’ Castro said in Filipino.
Instead of a toll holiday, Castro urged motorists to avoid NLEX until floodwaters in affected portions of the expressway have subsided.
‘You shouldn’t pass through there for now; after all, if the vehicle can’t actually get through, what is the point of it being free [of toll]?’ Castro said.
‘The idea of making it free is noble, but if we do that, won’t more vehicles try to enter? And if more vehicles enter, traffic will only get worse. So, they really ought to avoid NLEX for the time being,’ she added.
Motorists endured severe traffic congestion along NLEX after flooding in San Simon, Pampanga, rendered a portion of the expressway impassable following heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon over the weekend.
MPTC has apologized to motorists for the disruption.
Public Works Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ B. Dizon, a former transportation secretary, backed the proposed toll holiday as a form of relief for motorists affected by the massive congestion.
Dizon said the government could shoulder the cost of the waived toll fees.
Last April, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agency, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), facilitated a month-long toll-free privilege on major expressways for truckers as part of government measures to cushion the impact of higher oil prices on food costs.
Asked whether the TRB would impose sanctions on MPTC over the flooding along NLEX, Castro said the matter had yet to be discussed by the Cabinet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
She said the President was currently focused on assisting affected motorists.
‘When I am able to speak with the President, I will ask about that, because right now, the President is prioritizing the well-being of our motorists rather than imposing sanctions [against MPTC],’ Castro said.