Enhancing Travel Experience during the 2023 Barangay Elections and Undas: MPT South Readies SMSK Program

Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), is gearing up to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and the observance of All Saints and All Souls’ Days.

The toll road operator is fully prepared to assist travelers during the forthcoming period: from 6 AM on October 27, 2023, to 6 AM on October 29, 2023; from 6 AM on October 31, 2023, to 6 AM on November 2, 2023; and from 6 AM on November 4, 2023, to 6 AM on November 6, 2023. This program covers MPT South’s high-speed road networks, including the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), in partnership with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and its operating subsidiary, PEA Tollway Corporation (PEATC), for the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and CAVITEX C5 Link.

Raul L. Ignacio, President and General Manager of MPT South, stated, “MPT South toll roads are fully prepared to serve the expected traffic surge across our toll road networks as we approach these consecutive holidays. With CAVITEX C5 Link and CALAX implementing a 100% RFID dry run, we urge our motorists to have an RFID installed and ensure it has sufficient load for a more seamless passage at our toll roads. Motorists may plan their trips through the MPT DriveHub app, which provides traffic updates, toll fee calculations, reloading facilities, and even emergency roadside assistance.”

The “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” (SMSK) program offers a comprehensive range of services to ensure smooth holiday travel. This includes deploying additional personnel for on-ground tasks such as traffic management, which includes patrolmen, security personnel, and toll collection personnel for both cash lanes and RFID lanes. RFID installers will be readily available to address any RFID-related requirements, particularly for toll plazas that are part of the 100% RFID dry-run (CAVITEX C5 Link and CALAX).

Under the SMSK program, the toll road operator will provide free towing for CLASS 1 vehicles (up to the nearest exit only) during the specified period. The program also guarantees the deployment of emergency medical services and incident response teams at strategic locations, ensuring they are always available and prepared to assist motorists in need.

To cater to customer requirements, MPT South’s Facebook accounts (fb.com/cavitexpressway and fb.com/OfficialCALAX) and X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts (@CaviteXpressway and @OfficialCALAX), along with its 24/7 hotline at 1-35000, will remain readily available. Additionally, the MPT DriveHub app will enhance the SMSK program by providing traffic updates and seamless access to RFID transactions, reloading, trip planning, and emergency roadside assistance.

MPTC is the toll road development arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). Apart from the CALAX and CAVITEX network of toll roads, MPTC’s domestic portfolio includes the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the NLEX Connector Road, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.