BOCAUE, Bulacan–The now recovering economy after the two years pandemic reaps travel boost this Holy Week vacation as motorists travelling along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) are expected to surge to 470,000 prompting the firm officials to add more safer, convenient and hassle-free services in their “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” motorist’s assistance program.
J. Luigi Bautista, NLEX Corp. president and general manager along with other Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) officials launched the MPT DriveHub App, a digital platform tool that can guide motorists of the best time to travel and which better entry or exit points to take based on clogged portions due to volume. The app also reports areas and section with ongoing maintenance works that could also cause traffic and delay.
Bautista led MPTC and NLEX officials in launching this year’s 13th annual “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” Holy Week vacation smooth travel program through a press conference on Tuesday in Quezon City.
The real time app reports the actual traffic situation in the whole stretch of NLEX including Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Manila-Cavite (Cavitex), C5Link Expressway and Cavite Laguna Expressway (Calax).
Raul Ignacio, corporate operations officer of NLEX said the DriveHub App also regularly monitors the load balance of the motorist’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and would help maintain a good amount to allow smooth passage in the designated toll booths.
Ignacio also said the Hub App is an easier way of loading up the RFID through PayMaya application.
Bautista urged RFID users to activate and load up their accounts as they intend to travel to their provinces to ensure they do not get stock in the long queues in the cash toll booths.
“It is the first time after the two years pandemic that people can really go out and travel and we see them really going distance,” he said.
The now 410, 000 daily motorists traffic along NLEX is expected to rise to 10-15% (450-470,000) for the Holy Week vacation travel from April 8-18.
Bautista told Inquirer that motorists usage of RFID decline to less than 70% after the Department of Transportation implemented the full contact less toll booth system in 2019.
More than 30% motorists he said already have RFID stickers and accounts but would not load up and go back lining in the cash tolls which create long queues and traffic. The more than 30% non RFID usage remains a big factor in clogging the speed highway particularly during holidays where there is an influx of motorists.
Bautista said the noticeable high increase in the daily traffic in NLEX this first quarter of 2022 is an indication that not only he company is getting back to its stable track before COVID-19 pandemic but the economy of the country.
As part of the SMSK program, lane closures and mainline road works will be suspended within the said period.
More patrol crews, traffic marshalls, security teams and toll plaza personnel to ensure safety and provide immediate motorists assistance will be provided.
