Truckers who will be entering the NLEX may now use some privately-owned weighbridge stations in Pampanga and Zambales as NLEX Corporation partners with firms in setting up these truck scales to comply with the 33-ton weight limit at the Candaba Viaduct southbound amid the ongoing repairs.
These stations are the TAG Metal Weighbridge in Ninoy Aquino Highway (Mabalacat-Magalang Road beside the Sta Ines Interchange), Bgy. Sta Maria, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Weighbridge in Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga; and Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC) Weighbridge in San Bernardino Road, Subic Port District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales.
The weighbridge in TAG Metal in Mabalacat is open to all trucks from Monday to Saturday, 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and requires P300.00 fee. The fee will go directly to TAG Metal. The CDC Weighbridge is free and exclusive for Clark locators from Monday to Friday except holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the SBITC Weighbridge, which operates 24/7, is only available for SBITC clients and fee is included in the tariff.
NLEX said this initiative aims to ease the day-to-day operations of manufacturing and industrial companies and address the concerns of stakeholders in the business sector who are affected by the restrictions at the Candaba Viaduct while ensuring everyone’s safety.
The company also mentioned that the opening of the weighbridge stations will not only help reduce overloading incidences and protect roads from damage but will also enhance efficiency and easier movement of cargoes by bringing the weighing activity closer to the source. Instead of lining up at NLEX-SCTEX interchanges, trucks can be weighed closer to their respective bases and if ever they go beyond the weight limit, they can easily go back and adjust their load.
Aside from the existing stations, NLEX is looking for additional weighbridge sites.
The weight limit on the Candaba Viaduct stemmed from the study conducted by NLEX’s engineering consultant, AMH Philippines, citing aging, fatigue, and continuous heavy loads as causes of the structural defects of the bridge. The five-kilometer bridge has been serving as a vital transport link, enabling the efficient delivery of goods and services between Metro Manila and the provinces in Central and North Luzon.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).