By Joey Pavia / Correspondent
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Pampanga Chamber and Commerce Industry Inc. (PamCham), chairman Emeritus Liberato “Levy” Laus has urged the operators of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) to improve the electronic ticketing system (e-ticket) at the 84-kilometer expressway, including at the exit here, which is patronized by some 12,000 motorists daily.
In the meeting at the Laus Group of Companies Training Center here on Wednesday, Laus said that long queues are experienced at the Nlex’s San Fernando exit “even on an ordinary weekend.”
Representatives of the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), led by Raul Ignacio, MNTC vice president for engineering and construction, disclosed that the company is set to install 26 antennas at the Nlex and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) to improve the e-ticket system at the two expressways now controlled and operated by the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led company. They added that they have to change the old one which are not “adaptable” to the integration of both expressways.
The MNTC said the installation of the new antennas will start next week “or as soon as it arrives.” It added that it will prioritize the replacement of the antennas at San Fernando, one of the busiest exits of the Nlex.
PamCham President Jess Nicdao echoed the statement of Laus, adding that “traffic adversely affects businesses in Pampanga and its capital city.” He and Laus are the heads of the more than 500 members of PamCham, the premier business group in Central Luzon.
PamCham, MNTC and other stakeholders on Wednesday approved the design for the portion of the busy highway near the Nlex exit here to address the worsening traffic affecting major businesses at the capital city.
The meeting was attended by Liberal Party Rep. Oscar Rodriguez of Pampanga and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Antonio Molano Jr.
The portion of the Jose Abad Santos Avenue, which hosts the SM and Robinsons malls, and the Azure North Resorts Residences owned by the Century Properties, should also be provided with a signalized intersection because of the lack of discipline of motorists using that road, the stakeholders said.