Sharing the same vision of providing the safer and better traffic condition to motorists and commuters, the City Government of San Fernando and NLEX Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement adopting a Traffic Management Plan for the San Fernando Interchange.
The signing ceremony was held on January 30, 2020 at Heroes Hall in this capital city and was spearheaded by top officials of the two institutions, led by Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago and NLEX Corporation President & General Manager J. Luigi Bautista.
Considered to be one the busiest NLEX interchanges, the San Fernando interchange is recognized as the “main gateway to Pampanga and surrounding provinces” where a number of business and commercial centers are located, including several in the city.
In addition to the roster of enhancements in the interchange, including the widening of the interchange bridge, signalization of the former West and East rotunda, and expansion of toll plazas, a new plan is set to be realized jointly by the NLEX Corporation, the city government, and other agencies.
Bautista, in his speech, said that this plan is “aimed at addressing traffic concerns in the interchange.”
Thus, included in the Traffic Management Plan, as stated in the agreement and reported by the NLEX Corporation, are the following:
• Deployment of traffic personnel in the vicinity of the interchange in times of peak season
• Prohibition, prevention, and apprehension for illegal parking, loading/unloading, and jaywalking cases through a regular deployment of traffic enforcers beyond the Area of Responsibility of NLEX
• Removal and relocation of several terminals of public utility vehicles; and,
• Implementation of intensified road rules and regulations
Santiago, for his part, said that apart from the shared vision on safety and mobility, this is just another edition of a longstanding partnership between the city government and the corporation.
“The City of San Fernando is recognized as one of the cities in the country na mabilis ang asenso at progreso. It’s because of our longstanding partnership with the taxpayers, business community, and the private sector, kabilang na ang NLEX. Isa na naman po itong pagbubukas ng mas maganda pang relasyon sa NLEX,” he said.
The city mayor also said that this project will benefit Fernandinos and non-Fernandinos who make transactions with different institutions in the city, province, and Central Luzon.
The NLEX Corporation and the City Government of San Fernando have yet to make further plans before the actual implementation of the project.
Also present during the signing ceremony were some of the top officials and staff of NLEX Corporation and heads of offices of the City Government.