In response to massive, flood-induced traffic congestion in San Simon, Pampanga, the Philippine government announced a temporary toll waiver on specific segments of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed Wednesday that Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez coordinated the initiative with expressway operators.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) subsequently announced that toll fees are suspended along the stretch between Pulilan, Bulacan, and San Fernando, Pampanga, in both directions.
During a radio interview, Castro detailed how the arrangement developed:
“May good news po kasi tayo. Kasi kinausap po tayo ni Sec. Banoy (Giovanni) Lopez ng DOTr at magkakaroon po ng free toll fee pero sa mga designated areas po,” she said.
Castro clarified that because the tollway is operated by a private entity, North Luzon Expressway Corporation, the administration could not unilaterally mandate a fee suspension and had to reach an agreement through bilateral talks.
“Sana maintindihan din po ng tao na ang nagma-manage nito ay pribadong kumpanya,” Castro explained.
“So hindi naman po pwedeng idikta na ilibre niyo ‘yan,” she added.
The decision follows severe flooding that turned key highway segments impassable, trapping commuters in gridlock for hours and forcing extensive detours across neighboring provinces. Some motorists reported travel times spanning nearly a day to bypass the submerged zones.
The implementation marks an adjustment from Malacañang’s initial reluctance over concerns that waiving fees entirely would draw extra vehicular volume into the flooded bottleneck and exacerbate delays.
Castro noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed officials to explore all practical relief measures for impacted commuters.