The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) defended the traffic situation in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), particularly around the Meycauayan - Northbound Exit.
TRB spokesperson Julius Corpuz responded to the statement of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III that motorists experience 'EDSA-like traffic' along the expressway, specifically from Balintawak to Meycauayan.
Pimentel made the remark after the TRB approved a provisional increase in the toll fee collected by NLEX.
"Dito sa Meycauayan - Northbound Exit, ang problema diyan ay hindi naman yung NLEX," the TRB official said on Wednesday, June 14, during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Wala naman paying toll plaza diyan. Lalabas lang kayo at kakanan palabas ng local road. Yung traffic sa local road, which is beyond the jurisdiction ng NLEX, ang nag-cause ng matinding traffic," he added.
Corpuz insists that the traffic situation in the said NLEX section stemmed from the piles of trucks using the local roads of Meycauayan, Bulacan.
"Dahil sa medyo gumanda na yung economy ng Meycauayan, yung mga industrial zone doon, marami ng truck ang gumagamit sa local roads kaya nabubulunan yung paglabas ng ating mga Meycauayan - Northbound Exit users," Corpuz explained.
Meanwhile, Corpuz promised that TRB will hear any complaints regarding the toll fare increase.
"Binigyan natin ng panahon yung mga expressway users na maghain ng kanilang mga objection or petition for review. Inilathala natin yung main petitions noong 2021, walang nag-file ng objections," Corpuz stressed.
"Sa ngayon, walang kadahilanan para tayo ay magpatuloy ng public hearing subalit kung meron nagnanais na mag-file ng petition for review on these toll rates, aming malugod na tatanggapin," he assured.
Pimentel called for TRB and NLEX to put on hold the toll fare increase 'in light of the worsening traffic conditions on the expressway and the burden of inflation faced by the Filipino people'.
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TRB defends traffic situation in NLEX as toll hike looms