With the holiday season fast approaching, tollways operators are gearing up for a significant uptick in traffic, predicting a 10 to 15 percent increase in vehicle volume across major expressways.
MPT South Corp. projects a surge in travelers, particularly with the recent opening of Segment 2 of Cavitex, which connects Sucat to the coastal expressway. The company also anticipates heightened traffic volumes on the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), as more holidaymakers head to the popular Tagaytay-Nasugbu area.
Similarly, NLEX Corp. projects a 10 percent increase in vehicle traffic on its key routes, including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). In 2024, NLEX reported an average daily traffic of 334,000 vehicles, with SCTEX and NLEX Connector logging 78,000 and 19,000 vehicles daily, respectively.
In response to the expected surge, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) announced a toll-free initiative to help ease travel during the festive season. Motorists traveling on NLEX, SCTEX, NLEX Connector, Cavitex, and CALAX will be able to enjoy free toll passage during select hours: from 10:00 PM on December 24 to 6:00 AM on December 25, and again from 10:00 PM on December 31 to 6:00 AM on January 1.
MPTC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan emphasized the company’s commitment to helping families make the most of their time together during the holidays. “Family time is priceless, especially during the holidays. Offering toll-free access is our humble gift to families who wish to maximize their time together,” Pangilinan said.
Outside of these designated hours, standard toll fees will apply.
To ensure a smoother travel experience, MPTC urges motorists to check their RFID tags at Easytrip service centers before hitting the road and recommends that cash-paying customers switch to RFID for greater efficiency.
With these measures in place, tollway operators aim to ease the festive rush and support smoother travel for holiday-goers.
