TRB prepares for Christmas exodus this weekend

The Toll Regulatory Board said it is anticipating at least 20% additional traffic on the last weekend before Christmas.


According to TRB Spokesperson Julius Corpuz in a public briefing on Wednesday, the moderate traffic flow gradually becomes heavy over the weekends due to the Christmas rush.

“Ang pinakamabigat na traffic na naranasan po natin na weekend was last December 15, Friday, at December 16, Saturday. Siguro dahil sa araw ng sahod, pangalawa ay last weekend ng mga paaralan at wala na po sigurong pasok, at yung iba ay nagsi-uwi na ay nagbigat po ang traffic sa atin that time,” said Corpuz.

(The heaviest traffic flow we experienced on a weekend was last December 15, Friday, and December 16, Saturday. Perhaps this ws because it was payday Second, it was the last weekend of school and there were no more classes, and students went back home [to the provinces] and this may have added to the heavy traffic at that time)

“Ang pinaghahandaan po nating mabuti ngayon ay this coming weekend… because that’s the weekend before Christmas, at alam naman po natin na marami sa ating kababayan at ating mga negosyante ay naghahanda para sa mga last minute shopping o pamimili o pamamasyal ng ating mga kababayan every Christmas season,” he added.

(What we’re preparing for is this coming weekend… because that’s the weekend before Christmas, and we all know that a lot of Filipinos and businessmen are preparing for last minute shopping or traveling every Christmas season)

The TRB said it's gearing up for 100% readiness to meet the demands of the anticipated traffic volume to ensure smoother traffic flow during the holidays.

“Lahat po ng ating toll lanes are open, [at] lahat ng mga tauhan are made available at walang leave. Lahat ng trabahong makakasagabal sa expressway at daloy ng trapiko ay pinahihinto po muna at nakaantabay po lahat ng mga emergency services, ambulance, fire trucks, patrols at mga quick reaction team,” Corpuz said.

(All of our toll lanes are open, [and] all our staff are made available and there is no leave. All work that may delay the expressway and the traffic flow have been temporarily paused and emergency services, ambulances, fire trucks, patrols and quick reaction teams are on standby)

Meanwhile, the dry run for the toll contactless system is still ongoing at several plazas nationwide.

“Generally, maayos na po ang sistema. May mga toll plazas pa kasi that needs to be upgraded, improved or even replaced kung kinakailangan upang maging mas maayos ang pagpasa ng ating mga systems dito sa nakakabit na RFID subalit yan po ay mailan-ilan na lamang,” the TRB official said.

(Generally, the system is good. There are toll plazas that still need to be upgraded, improved, or even replaced if needed, to ensure that the system works with the attached RFID, but these are only a few.)

“We wish to arrive at a very comfortable level na lahat po ng toll plaza [sa] lahat po ng expressway ay nagpe-perform with the high standards that we expect. Alam naman ng toll operators na papalitan na ang kanilang sistema at equipment at iyon po ay kasalukuyang ginagawa ngayon,” Corpuz added.

(We wish to arrive at a very comfortable level where all the toll plazas [in] all expressways are performing with the high standards that we expect. All the toll operators know that we’ll be replacing their systems and equipment, and that’s what we’re doing right now).—RF, GMA Integrated News