The Holy Week exodus on major expressways may be noticeably lighter this year, as the record-high gasoline and diesel prices appear to have slowed departures from Metro Manila and surrounding urban centers.

NLEX Corp. data showed traffic volumes on the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway have dipped from their daily averages of 350,000 and 80,000 vehicles, respectively, since early March, according to Robin Ignacio, assistant vice president for traffic operations.

“We’ve noticed a drop in volume. Traffic is mostly fast moving and our usual pre-rush hour congestion isn’t as heavy,” he said in a radio interview.

“By Thursday afternoon, traffic should remain light until Saturday,” Ignacio said, adding, however, that he expects traffic to increase by about three percent above average during Holy Week.

Sea travel robust

Sea travel, meanwhile, continued to record large passenger volumes. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expects about three million travelers to pass through the seaports this Holy Week, particularly in Batangas, Cebu, Bohol and Oriental Mindoro.