Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday (March 21) enjoined the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to suspend the collection of toll fees in Marilag, Bulacan where motorists are encountering heavy traffic as a result of repair works in the area.

Dizon said the public deserve this treatment as they continue to deal with the intense traffic condition brought about by repair works on the damaged portion of the road following a recent accident.

The DOTr chief said waiving the collection of fees is an act that the NLEX owes the public who are suffering from the inconvenience of the traffic situation.

“I am demanding from NLEX that while this is being done and our fellow citizens are inconvenienced, they should waive the toll fees in the affected segment,” said Dizon.

Repairs on the damaged NLEX area will take at least three weeks to complete, according to sources.

Dizon told NLEX: “Our countrymen should not have to pay anything while the repairs are ongoing.”

The Cabinet official also demanded the completion of the repair works in just “one week”, noting that the estimated three week duration of repaairs is “unacceptable.”

Several lanes along the Northern Luzon expressway have to be closed since a dump truck rammed into the Marilao Interchange Bridge on Wednesday morning.

On Friday, NLEX announced on Facebook that three lanes are open with approximately 20p to 30 kilometers hour running speed on the approach.

However, only Class 1 vehicles are allowed to pass through the interchange bridge going to MacArthur highway and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

“Class 2 and 3 vehicles are temporarily prohibited from using the bridge. Stop-and-go scheme is being implemented,” said NLEX.