MEYCAUAYAN CITY, Bulacan — NLEX Corporation, together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the local government units (LGUs) of Valenzuela and Meycauayan, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), continue to collaborate to address flood risks in specific areas of the expressway and the two LGUs.
Following an inter-agency coordination meeting initiated by DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon last August 2, NLEX Corporation presented 11 areas where waterway obstructions were found to have contributed to the flooding in Valenzuela, Meycauayan, and certain portions of the NLEX.
The joint cleanup and clearing operation of identified blocked waterways commenced last August 4 and is now in full swing. This collaborative effort aims to mitigate flooding by focusing on the blocked waterways that contributed to the recent flooding incidents.
Regular inspections are being conducted to check the status of the clearing operations and identify improvement areas to speed up the operation.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, joined by NLEX OIC and MPTC CFO Luis Reñon, MPTC Chief Regulatory Officer Arrey Perez, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Jay Art Tugade, and Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, led the inspection in one of the identified critical areas in Valenzuela.
“All-out effort ito ng lahat ng stakeholders — NLEX, City of Valenzuela, DOTr, DPWH — lahat sama-sama kasi hindi pwedeng hindi sabay-sabay. Hindi natin alam kung kailan ulit uulan nang malakas. So we have to take advantage na medyo maganda-ganda ang weather para ma-clear ito dahil mahirap na kung maulit pa ang pagbaha,” Dizon said.
In support of the initiative, NLEX has deployed around 120 personnel daily, along with equipment such as an amphibious backhoe, backhoe on barge, boom trucks, dump trucks, and a genset, across all assigned locations to accelerate progress and improve water flow ahead of inclement weather conditions.
NLEX OIC and MPTC CFO, thanked the DOTr for leading the initiative and for considering the expressway’s ideas for immediate flooding solutions.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Sec. Dizon for initiating this project. Ang pagtutulungang ito ay sumasalamin sa pinagsama-samang hangarin ng NLEX Corporation at mga katuwang na ahensya ng pamahalaan na magpatupad ng mga hakbang laban sa pagbaha at mapabuti ang safety at travel experience ng mga motorista,” he said.
Aside from the clearing operations, NLEX Corporation` ramped up its multi-layered flood control defense to enhance protection against flooding along its expressway network. The tollway company remains committed in pursuing long-term solutions, working closely with government partners, that will benefit both its motorists and the surrounding communities.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).(UnliNews Online)
