Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino (Senate PRIB)

Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino on Saturday, Aug. 5, said the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should step in and deploy portable floating pumps as parts of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) have been hit by floods.

Tolentino urged MMDA Chairman lawyer Romando "Don" Artes to initiate coordination with NLEX as heavy traffic has already affected northbound motorists from Metro Manila.

He said he has already called on NLEX spokesperson Robin Ignacio to contact MMDA for support, but the lawmaker raised urgency to the latter.

“Mas maganda siguro, chairman, kayo na ang tumawag sa NLEX, para sa ganun ay matulungan na natin itong San Simon Bridge na mabawasan po ‘yung tubig (I think it is better for our chairman to call NLEX to reduce floodwaters at the San Simon bridge),’’ the lawmaker stressed.

During Tolentino’s DZRH radio program Saturday,  Artes noted Senator Tolentino’s call, saying that they have already implemented similar deployments of portable floating pumps, particularly in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). 

“Ginawa din po natin ‘yan a few weeks ago, dito sa SLEX naman (You are right, we did that at SLEX a few weeks ago). Tama po kayo, napaka-epektibo ng ating portable floating pumps (You're right, floating pumps are very effective),” the MMDA chairman emphasized.

Tolentino, a former MMDA chairman himself, stressed that motorists from Metro Manila are already affected: “Walong oras na ‘yung trapik, apektado na ‘yung mga taga-Metro Manila na papuntang north (The traffic takes eight hours to traverse, affecting north-bound residents from Metro Manila).

Earlier in the program, Tolentino advised the NLEX to let MMDA deploy its mobile pumps to ease flooding along the expressway, which was caused by the overflowing of the Pampanga River.

The lawmaker also urged the NLEX to waive all toll fees for vehicles to be deployed by relief operations groups, as well as provide discounted toll fees to all motorists going to San Simon, Pampanga.

Portions of NLEX have been hit by floods after the Pampanga River overflowed on Wednesday, Aug 2.