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Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. will again raise the North Luzon Expressway’s northbound and southbound pavements in Tulaoc, San Simon, Pampanga as a permanent solution to recurring flooding
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Further raising of the roadway, which was previously elevated by about 0.7 meter, can proceed once elevation of the Tulaoc Bridge is completed to provide the required vertical clearance
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MPTC said it is closely coordinating with the Department of Transportation, Toll Regulatory Board and other government agencies to assess immediate measures to support motorists affected by days of habagat or southwest rains and rising water levels in the Pampanga River
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MPTC said it is deploying temporary flood barriers, siphoning trucks and intensified pumping operations in Tulaoc
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) will further raise the North Luzon Expressway’s (NLEX) northbound and southbound pavements in Tulaoc, San Simon, Pampanga as a permanent solution to recurring flooding in the area.
MPTC, which manages and operates NLEX through its subsidiary NLEX Corp., said the roadway had previously been elevated by about 0.7 meter, and further raising can proceed once elevation of the Tulaoc Bridge is completed to provide the required vertical clearance.
MPTC in a statement on September 1 said it recognizes the difficulties faced by motorists and will continue working with national and local agencies to speed up flood-prevention measures and restore reliable travel through the affected NLEX corridor.
“We fully understand the frustration of motorists and commuters who spent hours on NLEX,” MPTC said. “To everyone who endured the ordeal, especially those travelling with children, elderly passengers or family members needing medical attention, we are deeply sorry for what you went through.”
The statement comes as motorists were caught in hours-long traffic after days of heavy southwest monsoon rains pushed floodwater onto the expressway.
Traffic advisories issued on August 31 showed severe congestion at Tulaoc and the San Simon Interchange, with some lanes restricted as water levels rose. Alternative roads were also affected by flooding, limiting options for motorists.
The Tulaoc section has long been identified as a flood-prone point. In 2023, the government and NLEX Corp. agreed on road- and bridge-raising measures after flooding caused hours-long traffic in San Simon.
MPTC said it is closely coordinating with the Department of Transportation, Toll Regulatory Board and other government agencies to assess immediate measures to support motorists affected by days of Habagat rains and rising water levels in the Pampanga River, while speeding up necessary flood-prevention measures.
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MPTC said it is deploying temporary flood barriers, siphoning trucks and intensified pumping operations in Tulaoc.
Concrete barriers will be installed along about 300 meters of both the northbound and southbound carriageways to help block further inflow, while a counterflow will be opened for emergency and response equipment.
Earlier, Pampanga governor Lilia Pineda said the flooding reflects a broader drainage problem across the province, with water backing up because downstream areas like Macabebe and Masantol are already full and floodwater cannot readily discharge toward Manila Bay.
NLEX said pumping alone cannot keep the roadway clear while floodwater continues to enter from surrounding areas. The company has issued round-the-clock advisories through its social media channels and 31 Variable Message Signs across NLEX, SCTEX and the NLEX Connector. Patrol and emergency crews remain deployed 24/7.
MPTC also shared observations by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon that the sheer volume of water brought by the southwest monsoon overwhelmed the system. In a media interview, Dizon acknowledged that pumping alone would not solve the problem as the water would simply flow back.
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