San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon Ang attributed the flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to soil and debris left behind during the 2024 repair of the NLEx Tulaoc Bridge.
Speaking to Bulacan journalists on Tuesday, Ang said the debris had obstructed the flow of water released from Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, which cascaded through Pampanga before emptying into Manila Bay.
‘The soil had blocked the waterways. They just left it there. They have to remove it to clear the waterways,’ he said.
Ang offered to help NLEx address the flooding, which caused up to eight hours of traffic congestion on Monday.
Ang is set to serve as chief executive officer of the planned ‘mega tollway’ company that will be formed through the merger of the country’s two largest toll road operators, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and SMC.
MPTC operates NLEx, while SMC operates the South Luzon Expressway and other major toll roads.
The planned merger is expected to create a larger tollway operator with a wider network of expressways across Luzon.
Broader drainage problem
In a statement, MPTC assured motorists that it would continue working with national and local agencies to speed up flood-prevention measures and restore reliable travel along the affected NLEx corridor.
The company said it was closely coordinating with the Department of Transportation, Toll Regulatory Board, and other government agencies to assess immediate measures to assist motorists.
MPTC said it would raise the northbound and southbound pavements in Tulaoc, San Simon, Pampanga, once the Tulaoc Bridge elevation was completed.
MPTC cited Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda’s statement that the flooding reflected a broader drainage problem in the province, with water backing up because downstream areas such as Macabebe and Masantol were already saturated and floodwaters could not readily drain into Manila Bay.
MPTC likewise cited Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s observation that the sheer volume of water brought by the southwest monsoon had overwhelmed the drainage system.