MANILA, Philippines — Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Monday suspended the business permit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. after it failed to address the heavy traffic that its cashless toll collection has been causing in the locality.
Gatchalian personally served the Executive Order he signed suspending NLEX Corp.’s operation to the company’s offices in Valenzuela.
The suspension order means “motorists can still pass through the NLEX system but toll fees will no longer be collected,” the Valenzuela City government said in a Twitter post.
Mayor @rex_gatchalian personally served the signed Executive Order suspending the business permit and business operations of NLEX in their Mindanao Ave toll plaza. #TollHoliday has started! The boom barriers were raised to not impede the traffic. pic.twitter.com/aALbFW1hGS
— valenzuelacity (@valenzuelacity) December 7, 2020
Mayor @rex_gatchalian serves the second EO suspending the business permit and business operations of NLEX in their Karuhatan toll plaza. The suspension order means that motorists can still pass through the NLEX but toll fees will no longer be collected. #TollHoliday pic.twitter.com/YaK4HU1F7W
— valenzuelacity (@valenzuelacity) December 7, 2020
NOW: Mayor @rex_gatchalian to personally serve the Executive Orders suspending the business permit and business operations of NLEX in Valenzuela City. #TollHoliday pic.twitter.com/pxNeOEKOoR
— valenzuelacity (@valenzuelacity) December 7, 2020
Earlier, Gatchalian sent a letter to NLEX Corp. directing the firm to comply with the city government’s conditions by 5:01 p.m. Monday, December 7, to be able to continue its operations in Valenzuela as the city chief executive decried the traffic mess allegedly being caused by the company’s RFID system.
In the letter, Gatchalian said that “the City government will exercise its full power and authority and issue an executive order for your company to cease and desist from operation of your business” should NLEX Corp. fail to address the problem within the given period.
Particularly, Gatchalian said NLEX Corp. should take full responsibility for its “shortcomings and mistakes in your RFID system” and apologize to the general public.
Gatchalian also demanded that the firm offer concessions to the public to “make up for the damages done to the general public in the form of toll holiday pending acceptable and full solution” to the RFID problem.
NLEX Corp. should likewise lift all toll boom gates and barriers in their toll plazas in the city to alleviate the traffic situation, Gatchalian said.
“The monstrous traffic jam caused by the technical glitches in your RFID system is already taking its toll on the economic, mental, and general well-being of our citizens. The suffering has to stop. The public deserves better,” Gatchalian said in his letter.