TOLLS at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) were waived to ease the burden of motorists trapped in traffic jams as some areas are submerged in floodwaters caused by persistent rains, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
“Free toll on NLEx for all vehicles [will be implemented],” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday during a press briefing.
“This is in accordance with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help motorists and passengers stranded in traffic on NLEx due to flooding at the Tulaok Bridge in San Simon, Pampanga,” Castro said in Filipino.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that starting Sept. 2, the toll will be free for vehicles coming from Pulilan, Bulacan, to San Fernando, Pampanga, and vice versa.
“The free toll fee will continue until the situation on NLEx returns to normal,” the Palace press officer said.
She said Lopez thanked all toll operators who continue to provide free toll for provincial buses and vehicles delivering agricultural products.
“Following this, the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) ordered NLEX Corp. to provide food and drinks, and to set up portable toilets for motorists caught in heavy traffic,” Castro added.
Reimbursement
Meanwhile, the DOTr has directed the NLEX Corp. to consider reimbursing the toll fees of Class 1 motorists who were compelled to make a U-turn along the expressway due to the flooding.
The DOTr also ordered the tollway management to implement a faster and more efficient flood warning system for motorists during heavy rains and flooding.
This system will include direct SMS (short message service) or text messages and other accessible platforms to ensure that travelers would receive timely and life-saving information, Lopez said on Wednesday.
He said the president has instructed the DOTr and other national government agencies to take immediate action to resolve the severe traffic congestion along NLEx, which has been exacerbated by flooding in portions of San Simon, Pampanga.
The TRB, upon Lopez’s instruction, ordered NLEX management to explain the traffic congestion caused by the flooding, along with its proposed measures to mitigate the impact and prevent similar incidents in the future.
It also issued a separate letter which directed the tollway management to consider reimbursing the toll fees of the affected Class 1 motorists at the height of the massive flooding along the expressway.
The DOTr chief emphasized that timely advisories will help motorists navigate flood-prone sections of NLEx and identify alternative routes, ultimately reducing the impact of weather-related disruptions.
“Our toll operators must be proactive. They should anticipate which areas need to be monitored, especially when heavy rain is approaching, so motorists can immediately know which parts of the expressway are flooded or difficult to pass through and avoid them,” Lopez said.
“They should receive advisories right away — such as text messages — so they can plan better and not get stuck in traffic,” he added.
These advisories must be disseminated at least three hours before the expected rainfall and resulting traffic closures, giving motorists sufficient time to adjust their travel plans, it said.
The DOTr said it is closely coordinating with the TRB, Department of Public Works and Highway and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in implementing additional measures.
These include sandbagging, continuous pumping of floodwater, installation of flood barriers and the diversion of vehicles to alternative routes.
Water catchment sites
Amid widespread flooding, the MMDA said the 39 sites for flood-catchment project are “execution-ready,” complementing the government’s vision of creating a “sponge city.” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes on Wednesday said the agency has completed the feasibility study that identified 39 sites as water catchment areas to address flooding in the National Capital Region.
Under the plan, each local government unit in Metro Manila has at least two identified sites, while others have three, with projects varying according to local conditions.
Artes said the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank has committed $200 million to fund the construction of the water catchment basins — some of which can be completed before the end of 2026.
In a press briefing at Malacañang, Artes said President Marcos ordered the MMDA to speed up the feasibility study for proposed catchment facilities identified during their recent situation briefing on the effects of the southwest monsoon.
“As for these 39 sites we chose, we are already in talks with the landowners, meaning all 39 sites are execution-ready — the obstacles or challenges were determined to be manageable on our end,” Artes said.
Sponge cities soak up, clean and store rainwater, thereby reducing flood risks and water scarcity.
The catchment areas will complement conventional flood control infrastructure, such as pumping stations, with systems that allow communities to capture, retain and manage excess rainwater.
The study, conducted by Haskoning based in the Netherlands, initially identified 107 potential sites before narrowing the list to 39 based on consultations and assessments of the proposed locations.
He said the projects will be tailored to the conditions of each site. These include catchment or cistern-type facilities that can temporarily store excess rainwater underground.
Artes said the approach is becoming increasingly important as climate change brings more extreme weather conditions and heavier rainfall.
