NLEX deploys more teams for SEA Games

BOCAUE, Bulacan , Philippines – The North Luzon Expressway Corp. deployed additional personnel at the NLEX for the opening today of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) at the Philippine Arena in Ciudad de Victoria in this town.

The company announced that close to 100 additional field supervisors, patrol crews, traffic marshals and security officers would be deployed in key areas along the North Luzon Expressway-Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (NLEX-SCTEX).

These include the Balintawak Cloverleaf NLEX entry, Ciudad de Victoria (Philippine Arena), Bocaue Interchange and the major toll plazas in Balintawak, Bocaue,  Clark South, Clark North, the new Bamban Interchange, San Miguel (Hacienda Luisita) and Tipo (Subic Freeport Expressway).

The company also reiterated that there is no truck ban along NLEX and trips will be hassle-free despite the expected increase in traffic volume for the duration of SEAG.

Bulacan police director Col. Chito Bersaluna confirmed that a truck inner ban was enforced along the road networks in the towns of Bocaue, Marilao and Santa Maria starting yesterday until today.

Maj. Leo Arinas, task force traffic unit commander for Bulacan, told The STAR that normal traffic schemes would be enforced along other major roads, including MacArthur Highway, in the  three towns with the expected heavy volume of motorists that could cause traffic jams.

Most of the athletes, delegates and guests in the SEAG opening ceremony are expected to pass through NLEX and not along MacArthur Highway, Arinas added.

Meanwhile, pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition appealed to SEAG spectators to keep the venues of the various events clean.

EcoWaste sought the public’s cooperation to ensure that the sports venues and their vicinities would not be sullied by litter that is often a common problem at big gatherings.

“As host country for the biennial sporting event, let us show our esteemed guests and our own people that we care for our environment,” said Jove Benosa, zero waste campaigner for the EcoWaste Coalition.

Benosa said to reduce garbage in the sports venues, the public should bring food and drinks in reusable containers to reduce single-use plastic and paper trash.

“We urge everyone to be mindful of the ecological waste management system that should be in place in all the sports venues in Clark, Subic, Metro Manila and other places. Remember to put your discards in the segregated waste bins.”

At the same time, Benosa advised spectators to put their candy wrappers in pockets and keep them until they see a bin. Rhodina Villanueva