NLEx taps more tellers, patrollers for Lent

BOCAUE, BULACAN—Bracing for the Holy Week exodus, operators of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) said they were deploying 800 tellers, 500 patrol personnel and 68 vehicles from April 7 to April 17.

NLEx expects 300,000 vehicles to use the expressway each day during the Holy Week break.

Rod Franco, president of NLEx Corp., said the expanded three lanes (stretching 28 kilometers) from Barangay Sta. Rita in Guiguinto town in Bulacan province to the City of San Fernando in Pampanga province, would be temporarily opened from April 7 to 17.

Motorist camps will be put up at gasoline stations offering free telephone calls, WiFi access, bottled water and towing services.

Additional traffic information signs, emergency medical services and 24-hour standby mechanic service and first aid will also be available at these stations.

Glen Campos, head of NLEx’s technology department, said motorist assistance programs would also serve travelers using the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Cavite Expressway.

In Quezon province, the provincial police launched its “Oplan Ligtas Sumvac 2017” to ensure the safety of tourists and pilgrims in the province.

Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, provincial police director, said policemen would be sent to vacation spots and religious shrines, particularly Villa Escudero in Tiaong town, Kamay ni Hesus shrine in Lucban town, Dolores town for Mount Banahaw devotees during Holy Week, and beach resorts along Tayabas Bay from Sariaya town to the Bondoc Peninsula area to assist visitors.

Armamento said the security plan would also involve different government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, rescue teams from government hospitals, local disaster and risk reduction management councils and their emergency response teams. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE AND DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.