Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), is gearing up for the anticipated surge in motorists during the upcoming Holy Week observance in 2024.
The toll road operator foresees an 8% to 10% rise in vehicle traffic on its toll roads, including the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), as well as its C5 Link segment. This increase is expected from Monday, March 25, to Sunday, March 31, from the usual 43,000 daily traffic on CALAX, 170,000 on CAVITEX, and 12,300 on C5 Link.
MPT South is reactivating its “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program and elevating operational readiness to cater to motorists’ needs to address this surge. Additional manpower will be deployed for services including traffic management, toll collection, standby emergency medical services, and incident response teams. Motorist assistance remains accessible through 24/7 Customer Service Centers, a 24/7 Customer Care Hotline at 1-35000, and 24/7 social media channels (Facebook: fb.com/cavitexpressway, fb.com/OfficialCALAX, Twitter: twitter.com/caviteXpressway, twitter.com/OfficialCALAX) to ensure a hassle-free journey.
During the period, free towing will be provided for CLASS 1 vehicles up to the nearest exit, available from 6AM on March 22 to 6AM of March 25, 2024; 6AM of March 27 to 6AM of March 29, 2024; and 6AM of March 30 until 6AM of April 1, 2024. Construction and lane closures along the carriageway will also be suspended unless safety repairs are necessary.
Mr. Raul L. Ignacio, President and General Manager of MPT South, emphasized the importance of RFID for toll transactions to streamline motorists’ journeys. “Utilizing Easytrip RFID at MPTC Toll Plazas significantly reduces travel time compared to waiting in long cash lanes,”. Motorists were also encouraged to download the MPT DriveHub app to efficiently manage their Easytrip RFID account and receive real-time traffic updates across various MPTC toll roads.
“Furthermore,” Mr. Ignacio added, “Poor vehicle maintenance remains a leading cause of breakdowns on expressways, causing inconvenience to motorists. With an anticipated increase in holiday travel during Holy Week, we advise motorists to conduct a thorough BLOWBAGETS check on their vehicles before hitting the road for a smoother travel experience.”
BLOWBAGETS, an acronym for battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self, serves as a comprehensive checklist for vehicle maintenance.
MPTC, the largest toll road developer and operator in the country, manages a vast network of toll roads including CALAX, CAVITEX, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.