A days-long traffic disruption on the North Luzon Expressway has prompted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to tighten coordination among transport regulators, tollway operators and local governments during road emergencies.
Acting LTFRB Chair Greg Pua Jr. ordered regional offices to establish closer links with expressway operators so information on flooding, closures and other disruptions could be relayed quickly to transport companies and commuters.
Local governments were also asked to work with LTFRB offices in mapping possible detours. The goal is to give motorists alternative routes when sections of expressways become difficult or impossible to use.
Transport companies and trucking groups will form another part of the information network, allowing road advisories to reach passenger and cargo operators before they enter affected corridors.
The directive applies to major Luzon toll roads, including NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX, SLEX, STAR Tollway, CALAX and MCX. LTFRB offices in the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon were covered by the order.
The changes followed severe congestion on NLEX from Aug. 28 to 31, when flooding around Tulaoc Bridge in San Simon, Pampanga disrupted traffic. Some travelers later described spending hours on the road and being forced to seek detours.
The incident has also drawn scrutiny from the Toll Regulatory Board, which asked NLEX Corp. to provide a detailed account of the flooding on the expressway and the circumstances behind the resulting congestion.
Pua called the disruption a “wake-up call” for agencies responsible for assisting travelers. He said better advance information and contingency routes could help passengers, motorists and freight operators adjust their journeys when similar emergencies occur.