In its continuing efforts to provide safe and convenient travel for motorists this Undas, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) will activate its “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” Motorist Assistance Program at NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C5 LINK, and CALAX until November 8, 2020.
The tollway company will intensify its operations, customer services, and safety protocols along its expressways as motorists are expected to visit their departed loved ones after November 4— following the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“This year’s Undas will be different due to the global pandemic. From October 29 to November 4, cemeteries and columbaria are closed so we expect lighter vehicular traffic in our expressways during this time. We are anticipating after that period, motorists will continue to visit their families and departed loved ones,” said MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco.
At NLEX-SCTEX, traffic monitoring teams will closely monitor high volume toll plazas such as Balintawak, Mindanao, Karuhatan, Valenzuela (Paso de Blas), Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Sta. Rita, Pulilan, San Simon, San Fernando, Clark South, Tarlac, Tipo, and SFEX.
“During this Undas observance, we are deploying close to 1,200 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams, and RFID Assist Squads to ensure safety and provide immediate assistance to motorists,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, assuring that those who will face customers, will continue to observe safety protocols so motorists will feel safer and more protected.
CAVITEX, C5 LINK, and CALAX will also augment their deployment to manage the traffic and assist motorists.
MPTC will also field additional traffic personnel to guide motorists at the toll plazas aside from the usual deployment of patrol crews, traffic marshals, and incident response teams at strategic areas of the expressway. Speed and lane management teams will likewise be on alert to enforce traffic discipline for road safety.
Last October 20, the company opened the Quirino East Service Road as an alternate route for NLEX-bound motorists to decongest the Balintawak Cloverleaf Northbound. This new route is passable to all vehicle classes.
Construction and lane closures along the mainline road of NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C5 LINK, and CALAX has been suspended until November 7 unless safety repairs are necessary. Free 24-hour towing service to the nearest exit for Class 1 vehicles will also be available from October 30, 6:00 a.m. to November 2, 6:00 a.m.
Real-time traffic situation will be posted on the company’s social media accounts, while the 24/7 Hotlines (NLEX, SCTEX, C5 LINK, CALAX: 1-35000; CAVITEX: 8-165-8888) will likewise be ready to address customer concerns.
This year’s SMSK is supported by Go Hotels and Prestone.