CHERISHED TRADITION FROM SMC’S RSA

ONE good thing about San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is its long-admired consistency of commitment when it adopts a policy. unwavering. Take the waiving of fees when we pass through SMC’S vaunted infrastructure thrusts on the nation’s major road networks on select occasions.

Through the years, SMC has gifted us that luxury, making free passage to their expressways at Star, SLEX, the Skyway system, NAIAX, and the TPLEX another holiday delight. It’s been a cherished tradition that the conglomerate has avidly kept.

This year was no exception.

Thus, after the “toll holiday” given us by SMC from December 24 to December 25 (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), the toll-free trip on the said expressways will continue from December 31 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. of January 1 next year.

as a happy result, traffic at said expressways had been almost flawless during the Christmas rush to get to our destinations, thanks also to SMC’S deployment of additional traffic enforcers.

again, the chief beneficiaries were motorists traversing the Southern Tagalog arterial road (Star), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System, Naia Expressway, and the Tarlac-pangasinan-la union Expressway (TPLEX).

“Traffic build-up and congestion at our expressways, ports, and airports is something we all expect at this time of the year,” said SMC President ramon S. ang (rsa), appealing to motorists to have an extra patience when confronted with delays along the way.

ang continued to appeal to make sure “your vehicles are in good condition, and that your electronic toll collection accounts are topped up, to prevent any delays to you and other motorists as well.”

he also advised us to always keep our autosweep ETC cards in our vehicles and prodded us to observe the “Seamless Program”—the system that cuts down toll stops south-bound at the Skyway System, SLEX, and Star from five to just two entry and exit points—transforming the Calamba, SLEX Greenfield, and Sto. Tomas, Batangas toll plazas into passthrough lanes to reduce potential traffic chokepoints.

We started implementing the ‘Seamless’ system last December 1, so that motorists can start feeling its benefits during the busy Christmas season,” said ang.

Positive results had been immensely reported.

“Smoother traffic flow now has been observed, and we’re hoping this will translate to a better driving and travel experience overall for many motorists this holiday season,” ang said.

ang also said the company is keeping its autosweep customer centers and RFID installation kiosks at gasoline stations along SLEX open for motorists who have not yet availed of their free ETC sticker tags.

With SMC continuing to show the way, it won’t be long when travel becomes seamless all over the land.

PEE STOP

Much appreciated is the P1-million donation of Isuzu Philippines Corp. for health care uplift to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, Irosin District hospital in Sorsogon, Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City and Dumarao Medicare hospital in Capiz. Cheers!... thank you to all the wellwishers. HAPPY NEW Year!*