The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) expects traffic volume in expressways to surge 20 percent during this holiday season.
Julius Corpuz, TRB spokesperson, told the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon news program, toll operators are preparing for the anticipated heavy traffic on December 22 and December 23, being the last weekend before Christmas.
Corpuz said heavy traffic was reported on December 15 and December 16.
TRB is encouraging motorists to use RFID for faster toll transactions and to make sure they have sufficient load balance to avoid inconvenience.
NLEX Corp., operator of North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and NLEX Connector have reactivated “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” (SMSK) motorists assistance program in preparation for the expected increase in traffic volume starting December 22 up to Jan. 2, 2024.
SMSK aims to enhance expressway services during peak periods for safer and more convenient travel. During its implementation, the tollway company will be deploying over 1,500 traffic, toll, and systems personnel for increased patrol visibility and toll plaza assistance.
High traffic volume is being anticipated in the following major toll plazas; Balintawak, Mindanao and Tarlac on December 22 around noontime until late in the evening of December 23 and noontime of December 29 until late in the evening; Tarlac on December 25, 26 and January 1; Bocaue on early afternoon until midnight of December 25 and 26, morning of December 27, afternoon to midnight of December 29 and January 1 noontime until late in the morning of the following day.
