MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro urged motorists to refrain from traveling using the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) after it experienced heavy traffic due to the severe flooding.
In a palace briefing, Castro questioned calls to waive the toll fee of the said expressway, arguing that due to the influx of motorists, they should instead take a different route.
“Why even bother going in when there’s already traffic? You shouldn't pass through there for now; if vehicles can't get through anyway, then what is the purpose of the free service?” Casto questioned.
She further noted that making the toll free would attract more vehicles and worsen the existing gridlock.
When asked if the president would impose possible sanctions on NLEX’s operator NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), Castro said it was not mentioned during the president’s meeting with other officials yesterday about the issue of flooding.
“The President's proposal focuses on how to assist our fellow citizens stranded on NLEX; I will most likely ask him about that when we speak, because right now, the President's priority is the well-being of our motorists rather than imposing sanctions,” she explained.
