THE OPERATOR of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) apologized to motorists stranded for hours by severe flooding in San Simon, Pampanga, after drawing criticism over its handling of traffic and advisories during the ordeal.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), parent company of NLEX Corp., said it was “deeply sorry” to motorists affected by the flooding, which caused traffic to stretch for more than six kilometers and persist until Sept. 1.
“To everyone who endured the ordeal, especially those travelling with children, elderly passengers or family members needing medical attention, we are deeply sorry for what you went through,” MPTC said in an Aug. 31 statement.
Among those who criticized the expressway operator was Fr. Christopher Aytona, O.P., a faculty member at the Faculty of Sacred Theology, who was traveling to an episcopal celebration in Manaoag, Pangasinan when he encountered heavy traffic before sunrise.
“If the situation was already that bad as early as 5:30 a.m., NLEX had sufficient time to issue public advisories through various news platforms—both traditional and new media—to warn motorists about the situation and prevent people from getting stranded in massive traffic,” Aytona said in a Facebook post.
Heavy rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, caused the Pampanga River to overflow, triggering severe flooding that affected the expressway from Pulilan, Bulacan to the Tulaoc area of San Simon.
Aytona, former UST Communications Bureau chief, urged NLEX Corp. to review its handling of the traffic situation, saying timely advisories and coordination with authorities could have allowed motorists to make informed decisions before entering the expressway.
He also raised concerns about poor mobile reception in some areas of NLEX, which he said made it difficult for stranded motorists to communicate during emergencies.
“The welfare of motorists should always come first,” Aytona said, questioning whether the expressway operator had prioritized toll collection over motorist safety during severe weather.
UST alumna Rowena Capulong-Reyes, who serves as vice president for corporate affairs of Far Eastern University, likewise criticized NLEX after paying P820 in toll fees despite being unable to complete her trip.
“We were allowed to enter, got trapped in the traffic, and were eventually forced to make a U-turn. Yet NLEX still charged us for both directions,” she said in a Facebook post.
Capulong-Reyes, a communication strategist, said motorists should have been warned before being allowed to enter sections of the expressway that had become impassable.
“If the road is no longer passable, close it. Warn motorists before they enter. And certainly, do not make them pay twice for NLEX’s failure to manage the situation,” she said.
Following the traffic ordeal, MPTC vowed to implement measures to mitigate flooding along the expressway.
The company said it would deploy 300-meter concrete barriers along both sides of the expressway in the Tulaoc area and use siphon trucks to reduce accumulated floodwater.
As a long-term measure, the toll operator said it planned to further raise the pavement on both sides of the expressway in Tulaoc, after it was raised by 0.7 meters in 2025.
Flood-mitigation efforts in the area have been underway since 2023. Yuahn Zachary B. Guilas
