MPT South prepares to help motorists during Holy Week

METRO Pacific Tollways South (MPT South) said it will activate “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” motorists assistance in preparation for the expected rise in volume of motorists during Holy Week.

With this Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko, motorists are assured of assistance should the need arise during the annual observance of the Catholic tradition.

The toll road operator said it expects an eight to 10 percent increase in vehicle traffic on its toll roads, including the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) and Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), as well as its C-5 Southlink segment.

This increase is expected from Monday, March 25, to Sunday, March 31, from the usual 43,000 daily traffic on Calax, 170,000 on Cavitex, and 12,300 on C-5 Southlink.

Additional manpower will be deployed for services, including traffic management, toll collection, standby emergency medical services, and incident response teams.

During the period, free towing will be provided for class 1 vehicles up to the nearest exit, available from 6 a.m. on March 22 to 6 a.m. of March 25; 6 a.m. of March 27 to 6 a.m. of March 29; and 6 a.m. of March 30 until 6 a.m. of April 1. Construction and lane closures along the carriageway will also be suspended unless safety repairs are necessary.

Raul Ignacio, president and general manager of MPT South, emphasized the importance of RFID for toll transactions to streamline motorists’ journeys.

“Utilizing Easytrip RFID at MPTC Toll Plazas significantly reduces travel time compared to waiting in long cash lanes,” said Ignacio.

“Motorists are also encouraged to download the MPT DriveHub app to efficiently manage their Easytrip RFID account and receive real-time traffic updates across various MPTC toll roads,” added Ignacio.

Ignacio said poor vehicle maintenance remains a leading cause of breakdowns on expressways, causing inconvenience to motorists.

“With an anticipated increase in holiday travel during Holy Week, we advise motorists to conduct a thorough Blowbagets check on their vehicles before hitting the road for a smoother travel experience,” he said.

Blowbagets stands for battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self.