EXPLAINER: Why NLEX in San Simon got flooded and caused monstrous traffic jam?

The monstrous traffic jam that affected both the northbound and southbound lanes of the North Luzon Expressway stretched as far as 10 kilometers because of the flood, particularly in the San Simon area, since the weekend.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” some motorists and passengers relieved their bladders on the side of the road while others got of their cars to march to the nearest gasoline stations for their toilet break.

How did the flood on the main expressway cutting through Central Luzon happen?

“Bumabalik eh. ‘Yung matataas na lugar, nadadamay na kasi nagba-backflow ang tubig. Hindi nga makalabas sa Manila Bay,” Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda said on Unang Hirit.

“So, talaga ang San Fernando, nagba-backflow iyan kasi hindi sila makababa kasi puno na ang Macabebe, Masantol, ‘yung mga nasa downstream natin,” she added.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said it’s because of the volume of water that the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat brought over the weekend.

“It’s really the volume of water. Walang puntahan talaga ang tubig,” Dizon said.

“Kahit maglagay tayo ng mga pumps d’yan… yung tubig babalik at babalik din,” he added.

A similar flood and heavy traffic happened on NLEX in 2023, and the expressway management raised the level of some of

"Kailangan magkaroon tayo ng mga infrastructure na pagdadalhan ng napakaraming tubig na nanggagaling hindi laman sa Pampanga River at sa bundok, kundi nanggagaling na rin sa dagat, sa Manila Bay," Dizon said.