Sen. Grace Poe (Photo from her office)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe filed on Monday Senate Resolution No. 255 calling for a probe of recent flooding at the San Simon area of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) that got motorists stuck in traffic lasting for hours.
Poe said the investigation was aimed at determining “whether proper due diligence was conducted in the operation and maintenance of the expressway” and to prevent a similar occurrence.
“The recent flood and traffic incident in the primary highways in Northern Luzon should not be taken lightly as its impact on the lives of the more than 350,000 daily average motorists traversing through it is immeasurable,” Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said.
“A study shows that the disturbances in travel caused by flooding to Filipinos are extensive and have various effects depending on the characteristics of the traveler.”
Workers sent by the North Luzon Expressway Corp. start working on a flood that started to rise on the San Simon area of NLEx on Aug. 2, 2023. (Photo from the Facebook page of NLEx Corp.)
Poe pointed out that the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry had complained that its members were negatively affected by the NLEX flooding.
The chamber said its members incurred additional fuel and manpower costs, as well as spoilage of goods and even penalties from customers. The unavailability of raw materials would also affect sales and productivity, the chamber added.
Flooding due to rains brought by Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon caused water from the Pampanga River to flow into the expressway, particularly under Tulaoc Bridge in San Simon, Pampanga flooding.
Reports from the mainstream and social media showed motorists getting stuck in a traffic jam extending up to 5 kilometers on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the expressway.
Poe stressed the urgency for concerned government agencies and the private operator of NLEX to address the worsening flooding and implement effective long-term solutions.
The senator also noted that the NLEX had recently implemented a toll rate increase for its users.
“NLEX is expected to continue its improvement and expansion projects in the expressway, especially with the increase in the toll fees,” Poe said.