Decisions regarding toll fee waivers for motorists stranded in extreme gridlock along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) following widespread flooding remain at the discretion of the highway’s private operator, Malacañang clarified during a news conference.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. retains the authority to provide recommendations, formal orders concerning toll collection must originate directly from NLEX executives.
“Siguro, bago po magmungkahi ang Pangulo, alam naman po ng NLEX kung ano ang nangyari dito. At ano ang kanilang responsibilidad, dapat sa kanila manggaling ang kautusan na ito,” Castro remarked.
Rather than supporting calls for toll suspensions, the Palace advised drivers to avoid traveling along the expressway altogether.
Castro noted that waiving toll rates could backfire by attracting a larger volume of vehicles, thereby intensifying the severe traffic congestion.
“Iyong stranded doon? Libre? Bakit ka pa papasok kung trapik na. Huwag na muna kayong dumaan doon, kasi kung hindi naman siya makakalusot, so ano ang purpose ng libre?” she asked.
“Magandang adhikain iyong libre. Pero kung ililibre natin, ‘di ba mas maraming sasakyan ang papasok. So kapag maraming papasok na sasakyan, mas lalong magkakaroon ng trapik. So dapat nga iwasan na muna nila itong NLEX,” Castro stressed.
When addressed on whether the administration plans to direct the Toll Regulatory Board to issue sanctions against the toll operator over the massive delays, Castro indicated that penalizing management is not the executive branch’s current focus.
“Kahapon ay napag-usapan ang problemang iyan, pero hindi napag-usapan kung anumang sanction. Ang nasa proposal po ng Pangulo ay paano po matutulungan iyong mga naipit nating mga kababayan sa NLEX,” she explained.
“Most probably, kapag nakausap ko ang Pangulo ay itatanong ko po iyan, dahil hindi po sa ngayon ang pag-sanction ang inuuna ng Pangulo, kung hindi ang kaginhawaan ng ating mga motorista,” Castro concluded, reiterating that relief for affected travelers remains the administration’s primary concern.