MALOLOS CITY—The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) clarified that the temporary exit recently opened for the construction of the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) Philippine Arena in Bocaue town will not be for the exclusive use of members of the said religious organization.
Instead, it will be for use of the general public once it is opened permanently in time for the INC centennial this July. Rodrigo Franco, president and COO of the MNTC, said permanently opening the said exit will decongest traffic at the Bocaue exit along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).
“It will benefit the public, especially those living in Sta. Maria town, San Jose Del Monte City and nearby areas,” he said. Franco disclosed that proponent of the Philippine Arena requested them to temporarily open an exit along the northbound lane of the NLEx to accommodate hundreds of trucks hauling construction materials to the INC mega project.
In turn, MNTC asked the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and it was approved with payment of corresponding toll fees. He said that the opening of the temporary exit for Philippine Arena’s construction vehicles not only shortens travel time but also saves small public roads from congestion and damage.
Franco also disclosed that it is not the first time that MNTC opened a temporary exit for private developers, noting that Petron and Shell oases along the NLEx were also granted the same at the time of their construction.
However, he stressed that the Philippine Arena temporary exit will soon become a permanent exit. Earlier, motorists using the Bocaue exit expressed concern over its possible congestion when the Philippine Arena opens in July. This is due to the hundreds of thousands of INC members expected to flock to the Philippine Arena for its centennial.
Dubbed as the world’s largest domeshaped arena, the Philippine Arena is located at the Ciudad de Victoria
compound of the INC at the border of Bocaue and Sta. Maria towns in Bulacan. When heading north on NLEx, the imposing structure can be seen on the right side of the expressway.
