Toll board orders NLEx operator to address flooding in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has ordered the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp., which operates the expressway, to explain the widespread flooding experienced over the weekend at Tulaoc Bridge near San Simon, Pampanga, that left thousands of motorists stuck in heavy traffic, some for nearly 22 hours.

In a letter shared by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, the TRB directed NLEx Corp. on Aug. 31 to submit within three days a detailed explanation for the flooding, as well as proposed measures to mitigate the situation in San Simon and Tulaoc towns in the province “to further avoid its recurrence.”

In a separate letter, the TRB also instructed the expressway operator to consider reimbursing the toll paid by Class 1 vehicles that were “compelled to make a U-turn due to the flooding incidents in the affected area.”

READ: Stuck on NLEx: ‘As if we went abroad’

According to the TRB, it expects NLEx Corp. to send alerts to motorists through Variable Message Signs (VMS), portable VMS and other messaging platforms to inform them that the San Simon-Pulillan segment of the expressway will be closed to traffic if the water level reaches critical level because of heavy rains.

Many parts of Luzon, particularly Zambales and Pampanga, have been inundated by floods for the past few days as a result of heavy rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat.”

“During such circumstances, NLEX Corp. is likewise directed to closely coordinate with the DOTr and TRB, to jointly ensure the timely implementation of appropriate flood mitigation measures and other necessary interventions, with the primary objective of ensuring the safety of the motoring public and minimizing traffic disruption,” the TRB said in its letter.

Two senators were among those stuck in the massive traffic jam along NLEx over the weekend.

Seven-hour trip

Sen. Robinhood Padilla said it took him seven hours to travel from his home to the San Simon exit, after leaving around 4:30 a.m. and getting out of the area at about 11:30 a.m.

“I personally passed through NLEx yesterday … It took seven hours … and that was only as far as San Simon. We didn’t even make it to Pangasinan,” he said on Tuesday.

READ: Ang: NLEx flooding due to blocked dam water

Sen. Joel Villanueva said that Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, who is from Pampanga, was also affected.

In a privilege speech, Villanueva, who is from Bulacan, called on NLEX Corp. to consider waiving or refunding toll for motorists who were inconvenienced.

He also urged the operator to create long-term solutions for the recurring flooding in the area. — With a report from Isabelle Pechay /das