CALAX, Cavitex gear up for traffic surge on election day

MANILA: With over 67 million Filipinos set to vote in the 2022 National Elections, MPCALA Holdings Inc. and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC) are preparing for an influx of motorists using their expressways from May 6 until the election day, May 9.

To facilitate smooth traffic flow, lane closures and mainline road works will be suspended during peak season, unless safety repairs are needed. MPCALA and CIC will also continue to give 24-hour motorist assistance to make trips safer and more convenient. Customer Service Centers and their hotline (1-35000) will be staffed 24/7 for roadside assistance and motorist concerns. Roadside assistance can also be requested through emergency call boxes installed along CALAX.

In a statement, MPCALA Holdings Inc. and CIC President and General Manager Raul Ignacio said, “Many voters are expected to hit the road and come home this election week to cast a vote for their candidates. This coming election day, always remember to vote wisely and drive safely. Aside from having a list of who to vote for, we strongly advise our motorists to include the BLOWBAGETS car checklist before driving off.”

BLOWBAGETS, a mnemonic created by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, is a tried-and-tested car checklist reminder before traveling to avoid vehicular accidents and breakdowns. It stands for battery, lights, oil, water, brakes, air pressure, gas, engine, tires, and self.

MPCALA and CIC also encourage drivers to use the Easytrip RFID in order to avoid long queues at the cash lanes. Those who do not have an RFID card can get one installed for free at any Easytrip station by paying the initial load of P200.

Existing users are advised to reload their Easytrip RFID accounts and maintain a positive load balance to minimize delays at toll plazas. Motorists can now use the DriveHub app to check traffic updates and reload their RFIDs.

MPT DriveHub is a free, all-in-one travel app that can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Drive Hub combines three functions in one app: RFID transactions, trip planning, and emergency roadside assistance.

MPCALA Holdings Inc. and CIC are subsidiaries of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road development division of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). Aside from the CALAX, Cavitex, and Cavitex C5 Link, MPTC also owns the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

Image from MPCALA Holdings Inc.

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