Marcos says NLEX northbound traffic cut to 45 minutes, eyes water catchment for southbound lane

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said traffic along the northbound of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) improved to around 45 minutes as floodwaters continued to recede.

In an ambush interview during an inspection in Lubao, Pampanga, Marcos said authorities are still looking for ways to address the more severely flooded southbound lanes in the expressway.

“Northbound is already 45 minutes daw na lang ang naging traffic. Yung southbound na lang ang kailangan natin gawa ng paraan para madaanan na mas mabuti, mabawasan ang tubig,” he said.

(Traffic on the northbound side is reportedly down to just 45 minutes now. We just need to find a way to improve passage on the southbound side and reduce the floodwaters.)

Marcos said the southbound section remained a challenge because it is located in a lower area.

He said simply pumping out the water would not immediately solve the problem because surrounding areas were also flooded.

“Babalik at babalik din yan,” he said.

(The floodwaters will definitely come back.)

Marcos said the government is considering excavating certain areas that could serve as temporary catchment or storage areas to prevent floodwaters from flowing onto and remaining on the highway. —RF, GMA News