SMC Infrastructure expects vehicle traffic across its expressways to increase by 10 percent during the Undas holiday period and is deploying additional personnel, emergency response teams, and traffic management measures to handle the anticipated surge.
The company said it is coordinating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and local governments to manage congestion, particularly on roads connecting to expressway entry and exit points.
Full staffing will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on October 29 under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Oplan Biyaheng Ayos. Quick-response teams, ambulances, tow trucks, and fire engines will be deployed at strategic locations along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway System, STAR Tollway, NAIA Expressway, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
Traffic monitoring centers will operate around the clock, while roadworks will be suspended from noon of October 29 until 10 p.m. on November 3 to minimize disruptions during peak travel periods. Emergency assistance desks will also operate 24 hours a day at Petron service stations.
SMC Infrastructure advises motorists to plan their trips ahead and allow additional travel time, particularly when passing through areas where expressways connect to congested local roads.
The company also reminds motorists to check their vehicles before departure, including tires, brakes, batteries, lights, and cooling systems, and to get adequate rest before long trips. Mechanical problems, including overheating engines, flat tires, and dead batteries, can cause breakdowns that contribute to congestion during peak travel periods.
Motorists are also advised to ensure their Autosweep RFID accounts have sufficient load before traveling to avoid delays at toll plazas. Those who wish to use a single RFID account across Luzon’s expressways may enroll in the optional One RFID program.