LTFRB Directs Enhanced Information Dissemination Amid NLEx Gridlock

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday said it has directed its regional offices to coordinate with operators of expressways in disseminating timely reports on the status of roads, following the weekend gridlock at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) from Aug. 28 to 31. Acting LTFRB Chair Greg Pua Jr. has also instructed regional offices to coordinate with local government units in identifying alternative routes from expressways during emergencies or other unexpected incidents. Furthermore, the regional offices were ordered to strengthen coordination with transport and trucker companies to ensure the “widest dissemination of information to the public in cases of unexpected road emergencies.” The directive covers LTFRB offices in the Ilocos region, where the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway is located, Central Luzon with Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and NLEx, as well as Metro Manila and Calabarzon with the South-Luzon Expressway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Toll, Cavite-Laguna Expressway and Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway. In a statement, the agency said “The LTFRB approach is two-pronged: the first focuses on information dissemination especially to the transport companies and the commuters, and the second is identification of alternative routes for wors[t]-case scenarios.” “No motorists and commuters would want to be stuck in traffic jams for hours and the two approaches are essential for both the transport companies and commuters to plan their travel ahead,” it added. In a letter dated Aug. 31, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) asked NLEx Corp., the operator of NLEx, to submit a detailed explanation regarding the flooding incident that occurred in the expressway’s main carriageway, particularly in Tulaoc Bridge at San Simon, Pampanga, and the resulting heavy traffic. Several netizens posted their experience driving for hours on social media, with one motorist saying her trip took 22 hours after she was forced to take detours. Pua said the LTFRB aims to assist motorists in finding alternative routes should there be “unexpected incidents” in expressways. “Our priority has always been the welfare of passengers and the delivery of goods to the Filipino people. The incident that happened in NLEx is a wake-up call for us in the LTFRB and other agencies to do our part in coming up with measures to maximize the assistance to the public,” he said. /cb