The toll holiday will continue in Valenzuela City this Tuesday after the city Monday suspended the business permit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) operator due to alleged persecution caused by their paralyzed cashless system.
As a result, vehicles are moving faster in parts of NLEX in Valenzuela.
Motorists are free to pass through the exits in Valenzuela because NLEX is no longer allowed to charge toll fees in the city.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the operator of NLEX, is at the center of the controversy due to its alleged improper implementation of the radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, causing heavy traffic in Valenzuela.
According to Mayor Rex Gatchalian, the toll holiday will continue as long as NLEX does not fix their system, which allegedly hurts customers.
“Kaya kailangan kalampagin para gumalaw sila sa lalong mabilis na panahon,” said Gatchalian.
According to Gatchalian, NLEX is already in contact to have a meeting between the two camps.
In a statement, NLEX said they are doing everything possible to expedite their system’s reorganization and apologize to their stakeholders who have been disturbed by it.
Toll holiday continues in Valenzuela City
But Gatchalian did not like the tone of NLEX’s statement because it seemed to be a victim.
“Do not pretend that your are the victim or the public interest defender here! Precisely we got to this point because you victimized and took for granted your customers! Don’t turn the table to make others look like the aggressor. The LGU had to step in to protect the riding public from your incompetence,” an irate Gatchalian said on his Twitter.
In a statement, NLEX said, “We have options to protect our customers, stakeholders.”
“These glitches that are occurring at the toll booths are simply a result of some adjustments that should be expected because the RFID implementation took effect only eight days ago,” it added.
In August, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) first announced that it would require expressways to use cashless or contactless payments on their tollways to ensure that the public is protected against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).