The issue of recurring flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), specifically at the Tulaoc section near the San Simon exit in Pampanga, was raised in the House of Representatives.

In a privilege speech by Senior Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Second District Representative Ferdinand Hernandez, he announced plans to file a House resolution seeking an investigation involving NLEX Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the Toll Regulatory Board, the Department of Transportation, and other concerned agencies.

A lawmaker also seeks for review if the improvements amid pavement elevations, siphoning measures, and flood barrier installations were enough. This aims to find out whether there are proven irregularities in preparations, monitoring, and response in the recurring flooding in the area.

He also questioned why toll collection was not immediately suspended amid heavy traffic, emphasizing that collecting tolls comes with a duty to deliver quality service.

“Kung may toll, dapat may serbisyo. Kung may concession, dapat may compliance. Kung may regulator, dapat may enforcement. At kung mabilis maningil ang toll, dapat mabilis din ang accountability. So I return to the question, which I began. Why charge a toll when tollway cannot deliver? This is the question tollway operator and our regulators must answer before this house,” Rep. Hernandez said

“No application, no requests, no public outrage should be necessary. The investigation should also consider automatic refund, toll waivers, rebates and appropriate compensation mechanism for motorist trapped during severe failures, as well as clear standards for when to collection must stop and when motorist may claim compensation for actual injury or lost,” he said

No lawmaker objected to Hernandez’s privilege speech, and it also gained support from colleagues from the chamber.

“Basic naman na dapat anumang service provider or establishment ay hindi mo sisingilin ang kliyente mo kapag sila ay hindi nakatatanggap ng tamang serbisyo. Mas lalo na kung palpak ang serbisyo. Dapat nga may reimbursement sa mga perwisyo na naranasan ng ating mga kababayan dito sa NLEX. Again, we support the call of our deputy speaker,” Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña said

The privilege speech was referred to the House Committee on Rules for appropriate action.

With reports from Evan Alvarez