Metro Manila, Philippines- Malacañang questioned proposals to temporarily waive toll on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), arguing that free passage could draw more vehicles into the logjammed expressway because of severe flooding in some sections.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said motorists have been advised to avoid flooded areas.
“Libre? Bakit ka pa papasok kung trapik na. Huwag na muna kayong dumaan doon, kasi kung hindi naman siya makakalusot, so ano ang purpose ng libre, tanong ko lang,” Castro said on Tuesday, Sept.1.
[Translation: Free? Why would you still enter if there is already traffic? Avoid passing there for now because if you cannot get through anyway, then what is the purpose of making it free, I’m just asking.]
“Magandang adhikain iyong libre. Pero kung ililibre natin, ‘di ba mas maraming sasakyan ang papasok. So kapag maraming papasok na sasakyan, mas lalong magkakaroon ng traffic,” she added.
[Translation: Making it free is a good intention. But if we waive the toll, wouldn’t more vehicles enter? If more vehicles enter, there will be even more traffic.]
Motorists endured hours of gridlock on portions of NLEX in San Simon, Pampanga, where flooding has disrupted traffic since the weekend.
Some motorists were stranded for as long as six hours, while lines stretched a number of kilometers as portions of the expressway were flooded.
Flooding in San Simon was traced to the rising Pampanga River, which caused an overflow to the expressway.
NLEX to decide on toll waiver
Castro said any decision to waive fees should come from the expressway operator.
“Alam naman po ng NLEX kung ano ang nangyari dito at ano ang kanilang responsibilidad, dapat sa kanila manggaling ang kautusan na ito,” Castro said.
[Translation: NLEX knows what happened here and its responsibility. Any directive should come from them.]
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which operates NLEX, has apologized to motorists.
Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed the expressway condition with officials during a meeting Monday.
“Kahapon ay napag-usapan ang problemang iyan, pero hindi napag-usapan kung anumang sanction. Ang nasa proposal po ng Pangulo ay paano po matutulungan iyong mga naipit nating mga kababayan sa NLEX,” Castro said.
[Translation: The problem was discussed yesterday, but no sanctions were discussed. The president’s proposal was focused on how to help our fellow Filipinos who were stranded on NLEX.]
“Hindi po sa ngayon ang pag-sanction ang inuuna ng Pangulo, kung hindi ang kaginhawaan ng ating mga motorista,” she added.
[Translation: For now, the president’s priority is not imposing sanctions but providing relief to motorists.]
