NLEX ready for traffic volume due to Holy Week exodus

The operator of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Saturday said it is ready for the influx of vehicles as Filipinos head to provinces for the Holy Week exodus to their hometowns.

"Kami sa NLEX ay nakahanda na po. Kahapon nag-deploy na nang mas maraming personnel," NLEX Corporation assistant vice president for traffic operations Robin Ignacio said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We at NLEX are ready. Yesterday we already deployed additional personnel.)

"Sa ngayon, maluwag pa naman ang daloy ng traffic... Hindi pa natin masasabi na may pagdagsa ng ating mga kababayan na umuuwi ng probinsiya para magbakasyon," Ignacio said.

(For now, traffic flow is smooth... We cannot say yet that there is an influx of motorists going to provinces for vacation.)

"Walang road closure, walang roadworks. Open ang mga lanes. Tuloy-tuloy 'yan hanggang April 6, Easter Monday," he added. 

(There are no road closures or roadworks. The lanes are all open. That's all the way until April 6, Easter Monday.)

#BantayBiyahe: (As of 7:20 am) Alamin ang lagay ng trapiko sa NLEX at SCTEX mula kay @NLEXexpressways Assistant Vice President for Traffic Operations Robin Ignacio

????: 594 kHz AM band
????: https://t.co/Jy4ATG1v0v
????: @gtvphilippines
??: https://t.co/Cl273HR6hS pic.twitter.com/n5Z3Ttraae

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 27, 2026

Ignacio admitted that the rise in fuel prices may affect motorists' plans to travel. However, the company is ready for the possible heavier traffic starting Wednesday, he said.

"Maaaring maapektuhan ng sobrang taas ng presyo ng fuel ngayon pero kami ay nakahanda pa rin na maaaring may pagdagsa ng ating mga kababayan pauwi ng Wednesday. Siguro tanghali pa lang baka dadami na ang pa-northbound. Tuloy-tuloy 'yan hanggang gabi, pati sa Huwebes ng umaga hanggang hapon," Ignacio said.

(The traffic may be affected by the higher cost of fuel now but still we are ready for the possible influx of motorists going home on Wednesday. Maybe Wednesday noontime, there would be more motorists going north. That will continue until evening, and until Thursday morning and afternoon.)

Malacañang earlier declared that April 2 (Maundy Thursday) and April 3 (Good Friday) are regular holidays, while April 4 (Black Saturday) is a special non-working day. This allows many Filipinos to spend the Holy Week with their families at their hometowns.

Ignacio added that every year, the number of vehicles on NLEX during Holy Week exodus rises to as much as 10%.

"Sa ngayon, maaaring ang pinakamataas na increase, baka hanggang 3% lang (For now, the possible increase [in vehicles] may only be up to 3%)," he said.

"Pero mataas pa rin 'yung volume na iyon kasi 'pag nagsabay-sabay sila sa mga peak hours, maaaring magdulot pa rin ito ng pagbagal at pag-congest. Nakahanda naman kami mag-implement ng counterflow," Ignacio said.

(But that volume is still high because if they all arrive during peak hours, there may be build-up and congestion. We are ready to implement counterflow.)

Ignacio said on Friday afternoon, they already implemented a counterflow from Balintawak to Marilao in Bulacan in anticipation of more vehicles using NLEX.

They will again implement a counterflow starting Wednesday noontime for the northbound direction, he added.

Motorists may expect build-up of traffic upon entry in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, and Karuhatan and at the toll plaza at SCTEX, Ignacio said.

"Kami ay nag-iinstall ng additional toll collection points. 'Yung mga porta booths, nakaantabay na para mas madali ang processing sa toll plaza," he added.

(We are installing additional toll collection points. The porta booths are ready for faster processing at toll plazas.)

Ignacio said there are still cash lanes on the expressways in case some motorists still do not have RFID cards.

Toll rates, rebate

Ignacio said toll rates will remain the same for now, but they are implementing a toll rebate program for qualified vehicles.

"Ang toll rate wala naman pong pagbabago maliban 'yung ginawa naming KaBiyahe toll rate rebate program sa pamumuno ng aming chairman na si Manny Pangilinan at pamunuan ng Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. Kasama ang NLEX, SCTEX, at CAVITEX," he said.

(There is no change in the toll rate. We have a Kabiyahe toll rebate program [being implemented] under the leadership of our chairman Manny Pangilinan and the management of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. NLEX, SCTEX, and CAVITEX are included.)

Under the program, Class C vehicles or trucks carrying goods are eligible for toll rebate as long as they have a valid RFID and sufficient RFID load, Ignacio said.

Public utility buses and modernized jeepneys are also eligible for toll rebates.

"Para din sa mga public utility buses at modernized jeep. Kailangan nilang i-download ang application ng KaBiyahe toll rate rebate program mula sa aming Facebook sa NLEX Corporation kasama ang OR/CR nila, 'yung certificate ng LTFRB at ID ng operator at i-email ang application sa customercare@mptc.com.ph," Ignacio said.

(This is also for public utility buses and modernized jeeps. They need to download the KaBiyahe toll rate rebate program from our NLEX Corporation Facebook page, then submit their vehicle's official receipt of registration, certificate of registration, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board certificate, and ID of the operator. They can email the application to customercare@mptc.com.ph.)

The application period started Monday and will end on April 5, he said.

With the toll rebate program, toll fees would be reduced to the rates before a toll hike was implemented, Ignacio said.

The rebates will be reflected in the motorist's RFID account every Thursday, he added. —KG, GMA Integrated News