Gearing up for the 10 to 15 percent traffic surge during the Holy Week exodus, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) will deploy over 1,500 traffic and toll lane management personnel along its high-speed road network.

MPTC operates NLEX-SCTEX, which averages 350,000 daily motorists; the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), with 160,000; the CAVITEX C5 Link, with 16,000 and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), with 34,000.

To assist motorists heading to the provinces during Holy Week, the MPTC will deploy more than 1,000 personnel for NLEX-SCTEX ; 500 for CAVITEX, CAVITEX C5 Link and CALAX; and 68 for CCLEX.

Traffic and toll operations personnel, including security and incident response teams, will be deployed as early as today, March 31 to ensure the safety of the public.

Traffic management teams will continue to monitor high-volume plazas such as Balintawak, Mindanao, Bocaue, Tarlac, and Tipo in NLEX-SCTEX; Kawit and Parañaque in CAVITEX; and Biñan, Sta Rosa and Silang East in CALAX.

MPTC expressways will be placing their operations on 'high alert' status and reactivating the "Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko (SMSK) " motorist assistance program from April 5 to 11. SMSK, now on its 14th year.

The SMSK program in CAVITEX is being done in partnership with its joint venture partner, Philippine Reclamation Authority through its operator, PEATC.

The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) is activating its first motorists assistance program this Holy Week, providing necessary services to ensure smooth travels for users of its 8.9-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

“We are reminding our motorists to plan their trips and avoid the rush hours. The influx of travelers is anticipated starting in the afternoon of Holy Wednesday until the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, as well as in the afternoon to evening of Black Saturday, Easter Sunday, and the Monday after Easter,” says MPTC President Rodrigo E. Franco.

“It is also important for motorists to observe traffic discipline and practice safety,” he underscored.

The NLEX Connector Caloocan-España Section is now open to the public. With entry and exit ramps at C3 Road and España, the new expressway serves as another route for those traveling between Metro Manila and North/Central Luzon provinces.

Emergency medical services will also be fielded and prepositioned at strategic areas of the expressways. The 24/7 hotline 1-35000 will be fully manned to address customer concerns.

For unimpeded travel, the NLEX management will also suspend lane closures and mainline road works during the SMSK period unless safety repairs are necessary.

Enhanced pavement markings and additional signs will also be in place to further guide travelers.

In case of traffic congestion from NLEX to SCTEX Tarlac and vice versa, motorists may enter/exit at NLEX Sta. Ines and SCTEX Concepcion.

CCLEC will also suspend road works on April 6 (Maundy Thursday) and April 7 (Good Friday).

Before heading to their destinations, motorists should check the traffic advisories regularly being posted on the company’s official Facebook and Twitter accounts (NLEX Corporation, CAVITEX, CALAX) or through the MPT DriveHub mobile application.

For those traveling the NLEX-SCTEX, motorists may also tune in to DWRW 95.1 FM and UFM 105.5 for traffic bulletins.

Free towing service to the nearest exit will be available for Class 1 vehicles traversing the MPTC expressways from 6:00 a.m. of April 5 to 6:00 a.m. of April 11.

As for CCLEX’s Customer Service Centers (CSC) located on both sides near the Toll Plaza, these will remain open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except on April 7 (Good Friday) to cater to motorists’ CCLEX RFID installation and reloading needs.