Call boxes installed along CALAX for quicker emergency response to motorists

MANILA: MPCALA Holdings, Inc. (MHI), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), has installed Emergency Roadside Communication System (ERSC) call box devices along Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

The emergency call boxes come with multi-modal communication features that allow motorists to reach out to the CALAX Traffic Operation Center. Through the call boxes, motorists can seek help from authorities in case of emergencies. The call boxes are equipped with a loudspeaker, camera, and hearing aid.

In a statement, MPT South President and General Manager Roberto Bonita said, "Para sa CALAX, mahalaga sa amin ang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng aming mga motorista. Sa tulong ng mga bagong emergency call boxes, mapapaikli ang emergency response time ng aming CALAX Traffic Operations Center ng walo hanggang sampung minuto. Itong ERCS ay isang parte lamang ng aming pangkabuuang sistema upang patuloy na mabigyan ng maayos na serbisyo ang aming mga motorista. Sa kalaunan ay maaari na rin nilang magamit ang kanilang mobile phones para sa kanilang mga road concerns. Makatutulong ito sa pag-monitor ng kaligtasan ng aming mga motorista sa tuwing babaybay ng expressway. (It is important for us in CALAX to ensure the safety of our motorists. The new emergency call boxes can help in reducing the emergency response time of the CALAX Traffic Operations Center to eight until 10 minutes. The ERCS is part of an overall system that we are working on to continuously enhance our service to motorists. Soon, we will be launching other channels wherein motorists can immediately reach out to us through their mobile phones for their road concerns. This would help in monitoring the safety of the motorists who are passing through the expressway)."

The ERCS call boxes are located in the following areas along CALAX:

Cavite-bound

• Emergency shoulder before Laguna Boulevard Exit
• Near lay-by area before Laguna Technopark Interchange

Laguna-bound

• Emergency shoulder after Laguna Boulevard Interchange
• Near lay-by area after Laguna Technopark Interchange

To further enhance the road safety of motorists, CALAX is also regularly maintaining its Road Lighting System (RLS) with 550 LED road lights along the first 7.2-kilometer segment of the expressway. These energy-efficient lights can last = over 10 years. With its excellent thermal management, strong electric surge protection, and IP66 water resistant and dust proof rating, the luminaire requires lower maintenance.

CALAX has also been working on the improvements of its systems and processes to ensure the safety along the entire expressway in time for its completion.

The four-lane expressway will be linking the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at Greenfield (Mamplasan) Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. It will span 45 kilometers with interchanges at Kawit, Governor’s Drive, Open Canal, Silang (Aguinaldo) Highway, Silang East, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, and Laguna Technopark. It is expected to serve around 45,000 vehicles while reducing the travel time from Cavite to Laguna from two hours to less than an hour.

MPTC manages the operations of CALAX, Cavitex, C5-Link Expressway, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

Photos from MPCALA Holdings, Inc.

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