NLEX … failed to pass the test and disappointed many travelers.
The recent heavy rains last week caused untold misery to thousands of commuters traveling to north of Metro Manila.
Many passengers had to wait for hours while some spent the night on their transportation because of impassable roads and junctions. For the “luckier” ones, they were forced to postpone travel plans to the northern provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan until the floods subsided.
An overflowing dam caused flooding in parts of the northern road network operated by NLEX Corp., stranding commuters residing in Valenzuela and nearby Bulacan towns.
Surrounding rivers and creeks in Valenzuela and Meycauyan overflowed as a result of water releases from dams.
Heavy rains and floods as a result disrupted travel along the strategic expressway. Road operator NLEX Corp., however, should own up to its disservice to commuters.
An expressway like the North Luzon Expressway is a modern infrastructure that should be weatherproof. Engineers design this type of road to withstand exposure to adverse weather without damage or impairment to operations.
NLEX and its operator, in this instance, failed to pass the test and disappointed many travelers.
Commuters were not the only ones affected by the NLEX standstill. Commerce and operations of manufacturing plants in Bulacan and Pampanga were also disrupted.
The NLEX is considered the transportation backbone of several regions that have benefited from economic growth in the Philippines. Central Luzon, notes the Asian Development Bank, has been the beneficiary of the urban sprawl out of Metro Manila, which has limited room for further industrial development.
The NLEX extends through the rich agricultural plains of Bulacan and Pampanga provinces and toward the large cities of San Fernando and Angeles. It is also the link to the Clark International Airport, Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Stunned by the floods and the gridlock, NLEX Corp. committed to step up its flood control measures.
The toll road operator, in response, pledged to implement proactive risk-mitigation efforts, including regular cleaning of drainage systems and culverts, roadside clearing, constant monitoring of river water levels and bridge inspections. It vowed to provide water trucks and dewatering equipment on standby during times of floods.
The company blamed “unprecedented rainfall” from the intensified Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), combined with the overflow of La Mesa Dam that led to flooding in the NLEX Balintawak Cloverleaf, Valenzuela and Meycauayan areas.
“We are implementing immediate measures in response to the recent flooding to ensure the safety of our motorists and to help reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future,” says NLEX officer-in-charge and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chief finance officer Luis Reñon.
“We are also working with relevant authorities to explore possible long-term solutions, including our offer to upgrade bridges, adopt and rehabilitate rivers and creeks that traverse NLEX,” he adds.
NLEX Corp. should coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in containing floodwaters that spill over to the expressway.
The DENR earlier called on LGUs to take proactive measures in addressing flood risks amid climate change and the onset of the rainy season.
The agency has urged the LGUs to create a future that mitigates flooding risks and enhances overall community resilience.
The agency stressed it was crucial for LGUs to integrate comprehensive flood risk reduction programs into their design and solid waste management plans.
NLEX on its own removed garbage accumulated from overflowing rivers and creeks and rapidly cleared drainage systems. It carried out inspections of rivers and creeks used as outfalls for water from expressway pumping stations to ensure proper flow.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported massive flooding last week in at least 14 cities brought by continuous southwest monsoon rains in the National Capital Region.
Heavy downpour caused chest-deep flooding in Barangay Marulas and waist-deep water in Barangays Malanday and Dalandanan, all in Valenzuela City, which were declared not passable to all types of vehicles.
Heavy rains and floods may be an act of God but they should not be an excuse for expressways to fail in their services.
The same traffic standstill may repeat itself in other stretches of NLEX and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), which NLEX Corp. also operates.
Rising water levels and strong currents, for one, may compromise other structures in SCTEX, especially the Pasig-Potrero Bridge.
NLEX Corp. owes it to the commuters using the expressway to provide reliable and safe service. There should not be a repeat of this raw deal.
E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
