Valenzuela mayor suspends toll operator business permit

December 7, 2020

By Ella Dionisio

Motorists can now pass through all North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) toll plazas within the jurisdiction of Valenzuela City after Mayor Rex Gatchalian suspended the toll operator’s business permit over the RFID (Radio frequency identification) mess.

At around 5pm, Gatchalian personally served the local government’s executive order suspending the business permit and business operations of NLEX toll plazas which are being operated by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation.

NLEX Mindanao Avenue, NLEX Karuhatan, NLEX Paso De Blas, NLEX Harbor Link, NLEX Lawang Bato, NLEX Lingunan are under the city’s jurisdiction.

The suspension order means that motorists can still pass through NLEX but toll fees will no longer be collected.

A 'No Business Permit, No Toll Fee Collection' signage was also posted at all toll.

“A business permit was violated… If they violated the law it will be revoked… If we are not given good service therefore we should not pay for unjustifiable service,” Gatchalian said.

“Nothing is being shut down… We just temporarily revoke the business permit of NLEX but the operation continues, they are not just allowed to collect (toll fees),” he said.

The mayor said the suspension order eases the traffic in the toll plazas.

“At least the traffic alleviates … It will not be the cure for all but we address one of the major issues in the traffic situation here in Valenzuela,” he said.

Last week, Gatchalian wrote a letter to the NLEX management asking for an explanation and action plan for the heavy traffic it is causing in the city due to their implementation of cashless and contactless transactions since December 1.

He gave them until 5pm of Monday to comply with the city’s demand to improve their service.

Earlier, the mayor rejected the request of the operator to give them 15 days to address the traffic woes in the toll plazas in their city saying the response letter did not mention how they are planning to improve their services. DMS