CLARK FREEPORT – Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) president and chief executive officer Ramon Fernandez said his firm which is the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will support any move to increase the maximum speed from 100 kilometers per hour (kph) to 120 kph.
During an open forum after his speech before the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) here, Fernandez urged the private sector to initiate the move for speed limit hike along NLEX.
“The law limits speed to 100 kph. but we will back any move to increase this to 120,” he said after PamCham president Rene Romero said that driving has become “boring” along the NLEX because of the current speed limit, especially those who are driving cars capable of high speed.
This, even as he stressed that for as long that the limit of 100 kph. remains, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) which operates the NLEX will continue to clamp down on speed violators.
He also bared negotiations for the purchase of 600 cc. motorcycles to be used to run after speedsters at the NLEX.
MPTC is also set to take over the operations of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) which it plans to link to NLEX by Holy Week next year by removing three toll gates across the tollways between the toll areas in Balintawak, Quezon City and Subic Freeport.
At the same time, Fernandez said that more reflectorized signages and other such measures would be put in place along unlighted sections of the NLEX towards San Fernando and Mabalacat, Pampanga.
PamCham chairman Levi Laus had appealed for more adequate lighting along the NLEX ‘s northern part in Pampanga.
He cited studies purportedly showing lack of highway lights do not lead to accidents.
“Studies show no correlation (between lack of highway lights and accidents), as most of accidents arise from blown tires, driver error and defective brakes,” he noted.
Fernandez also told PamCham members that no more “service facilities” would be allowed along the NLEX, after one member said that such facilities that include fast food restaurants deprive food business outside the expressway.
But he said that once MPTC takes over SCTEX, service facilities would have to be established at some points along the route, as he noted the total lack of toilet in the entire 94-kilometer stretch.
During an open forum after his speech before the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) here, Fernandez urged the private sector to initiate the move for speed limit hike along NLEX.
“The law limits speed to 100 kph. but we will back any move to increase this to 120,” he said after PamCham president Rene Romero said that driving has become “boring” along the NLEX because of the current speed limit, especially those who are driving cars capable of high speed.
This, even as he stressed that for as long that the limit of 100 kph. remains, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) which operates the NLEX will continue to clamp down on speed violators.
He also bared negotiations for the purchase of 600 cc. motorcycles to be used to run after speedsters at the NLEX.
MPTC is also set to take over the operations of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) which it plans to link to NLEX by Holy Week next year by removing three toll gates across the tollways between the toll areas in Balintawak, Quezon City and Subic Freeport.
At the same time, Fernandez said that more reflectorized signages and other such measures would be put in place along unlighted sections of the NLEX towards San Fernando and Mabalacat, Pampanga.
PamCham chairman Levi Laus had appealed for more adequate lighting along the NLEX ‘s northern part in Pampanga.
He cited studies purportedly showing lack of highway lights do not lead to accidents.
“Studies show no correlation (between lack of highway lights and accidents), as most of accidents arise from blown tires, driver error and defective brakes,” he noted.
Fernandez also told PamCham members that no more “service facilities” would be allowed along the NLEX, after one member said that such facilities that include fast food restaurants deprive food business outside the expressway.
But he said that once MPTC takes over SCTEX, service facilities would have to be established at some points along the route, as he noted the total lack of toilet in the entire 94-kilometer stretch.
