The Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered NLEX Corp. to suspend toll collection at the northbound Marilao segment of the North Luzon Expressway until all four lanes were fully passable after an overheight truck struck the Marilao Interchange Bridge on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday, the DOTr said the move was meant to ease the burden on motorists and commuters affected by the partial closure of the expressway.
The DOTr said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the agency, along with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), to ensure that road users were compensated for the “lost time, and exhaustion due to traffic caused by the incident.”
“The DOTr asks for the understanding of our motorists and commuters over this incident. The agency is expediting the repair of the affected infrastructure to immediately improve and ease traffic flow in the area,” it added.
Aside from the toll holiday, the DOTr also asked NLEX to extend assistance to the victims of the crash, which left one person dead and several injured, including a two-year-old child.
Additionally, the toll operator was required to explain its apparent lack of preventive measures, especially since a similar accident occurred just three months earlier.
Responding to the orders of the regulator, NLEX said, in a statement sent to the press, it is cooperating with authorities in investigating the crash at the Marilao Interchange Bridge and vowed to support the victims of the incident.
“The safety and well-being of our motorists is our top priority. We are cooperating fully with the DOTr, the TRB and the Philippine National Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident,” it said.
While acknowledging the DOTr’s directive to suspend toll collection until all four lanes are fully passable, NLEX said traffic at the Marilao northbound segment remains normal, which means toll collection continues.
NLEX also defended its safety measures, saying it has long enforced rules against overheight vehicles. It said many drivers still ignore signs showing the bridge’s height limit.
“It is a shared responsibility to protect lives, prevent accidents, and ensure that public infrastructure remains safe,” it added.
