THE Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) assured to continue enhancing all services along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Manila–Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), Circumferential Road 5 (C5-Link), and Cavite–Laguna Expressway (Calax) as it implements the seasonal “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko (SMSK)” motorist assistance program this Holy Week.
“MPTC expressways are open 24/7 to ensure the unhampered movement of goods and the transit of people on essential travels. Our team is always available to readily assist our motorists and efficiently manage the traffic flow on our expressways,” MPTC President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo Franco said.
For 12 years now, the SMSK has been a staple program aimed at providing motorists with safer and more convenient journeys during the holidays. It will be implemented starting March 28 until April 5, 2021.
During the said period, the Traffic Operations teams of MPTC will be on heightened alert and will deploy additional personnel to closely monitor traffic conditions at the toll plazas and interchanges.
At the NLEx-SCTEx, around 1,000 patrol crews, traffic marshals, toll collection personnel, and security teams will be fielded to conduct traffic management, provide immediate assistance, and look after the safety and security of motorists, respectively.
Emergency medical services, lane management teams, and incident response teams will also be augmented and positioned at strategic areas of the expressway.
Lane closures and mainline road works have been suspended until April 5 unless safety repairs are necessary. Median openings will be pre-opened for quick access in case a counterflow scheme is needed in the event of traffic buildup caused by untoward incidents.
NLEx-SCTEx personnel will also be deployed at all rest and refuel areas along the expressways to aid motorists.
From March 28 to April 5, Cavitex Customer Service Centers (Manila bound and Cavite bound), C-5 Link Flyover Customer Service Station (Merville service road), and Calax Greenfield (Mamplasan Exit) Customer Service Station will be open 24/7 for motorists’ concerns, as well as Easytrip radio-frequency identification (RFID) installation and reloading. Emergency medical services (EMS) will also be on-site 24/7 during the said period.
“We are anticipating a surge in the volume of vehicles that will pass through our toll roads, from the peak hours of Holy Wednesday, March 31, until Monday, April 5. Our commuter volume is within the NCR+ Bubble namely Manila, Cavite, Laguna. Safety is our priority, and we will increase the deployment of traffic manpower on these dates to maintain ease of passage for motorists traversing our expressways," Roberto Bontia, President and General Manager of MPT South, said.
Bontia added that they will continue to remind motorists to practice minimum health protocols such as wearing a mask inside their vehicles to avoid coronavirus transmission.
MPT South will deploy a total of 78 traffic operations manpower to ensure 24/7 operations in its toll roads. RFID assist and ambulant tellers on cash lanes will also be increased to manage the queue of vehicles in toll plazas.
As an additional service for those plying the MPTC expressways, free 24-hour towing to the nearest exit for Class 1 vehicles will also be available from March 31, 6 a.m. to April 5, 6 a.m.
Traffic situation will be posted on the company’s social media accounts, while the 24/7 Hotlines (NLEx-SCTEx, Calax:1-35000; Cavitex: 165-8888) will likewise be ready to address customer concerns.