FOLLOWING major travel disruptions caused by flooded tollways, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered its regional branches to establish closer coordination with expressway operators and local government units (LGUs) to safeguard commuters and maintain the flow of goods during road emergencies.
The directive, issued under the guidance of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez, targets key transport corridors across Luzon.
It spans Region 1 (TPLEX), Region 3 (NLEX and SCTEX), Metro Manila, and Region 4A (SLEX, STAR Toll, CALAX, and MCLEX).
Under the new order, Regional Franchising and Regulatory Offices (RFROs) must work alongside expressway management teams to ensure real-time status updates are delivered promptly to the public.
RFROs are also tasked with collaborating with LGUs to map out viable alternative routes when major expressways become impassable due to unforeseen disasters or severe weather events.
The agency’s proactive stance follows severe gridlock at the San Simon segment of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), where deep floodwaters stranded thousands of motorists and public utility vehicles, sparking widespread frustration on social media over the lack of detour guidance.
LTFRB Acting Chairman Atty. Greg G. Pua, Jr. described the NLEX incident as a crucial catalyst for agency reform.
“Our priority has always been the welfare of passengers and the delivery of goods to the Filipino people. The incident that happened in NLEX is a wake-up call for us in the LTFRB and other agencies to do our part in coming up with measures to maximize the assistance to the public,” Pua stated.
The board’s strategy relies on a two-pronged approach: strengthening real-time public communication for transport operators and commuters, and pre-identifying contingency bypass routes for worst-case scenarios.
Acting Chairman Pua highlighted the pivotal role of digital platforms and social media in broadcasting emergency updates quickly, giving drivers and bus operators the information needed to re-route early and avoid massive traffic delays.
Additionally, RFROs have been instructed to deepen ties with trucking companies and public transport groups to ensure emergency alerts reach all road users swiftly.
