MARILAO, Bulacan — NLEX Corporations put up more weighbridge stations for truckers entering NLEX, SCTEX, and NLEX Connector to help them to comply with the directives concerning the strict implementation of the anti-overloading policy of the provincial government.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando Fernando reminded the hundreds of stakeholders in attendance including haulers, owners of processing plants, quarry permittees, and operators in Bulacan to follow laws such as Provincial Ordinance C-005 and Provincial Ordinance 64-2018 and others to avoid dealing with fines and penalties related to infrastructure and environmental damage.
Kit Ventura, MPTC assistant vice president for corporate communication told the local media on Monday that NLEX also aims to promote motorist safety and prevent early deterioration of roads caused by overloading.
“The management said having these weighbridge sites in place will help reduce overloading incidents which threaten the safety of motorists as the extra load may affect the driver’s control of the vehicle. This will also protect roads from further damage and improve the efficient movement of cargo,” Ventura said.
He added the tollway company is strictly enforcing the anti-overloading provisions of Republic Act No. 8794 otherwise known as “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle Users Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes”.
“It is also implementing the 33-ton weight limit on the Candaba Viaduct southbound, as affirmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr),” Ventura added.
The new weighbridge stations are located in SCTEX Porac, Pampanga, and Concepcion, Tarlac. Privately-owned ACB Truck Scale Services weighbridge in Dinalupihan, Bataan has also been opened to all trucks from Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Truckers need to pay a P400-P600 fee, which will go directly to ACB, depending on the truck types.
NLEX is also eyeing to open more stations in the coming months to further promote safety and convenience. These locations will be in SCTEX Floridablanca and Dinalupihan, and NLEX Marilao, Mindanao, and Karuhatan.
Apart from these, there are 12 existing locations along the entire stretch of NLEX and four satellite locations in partnership with private firms. These private stations are the TAG Metal Weighbridge in Ninoy Aquino Highway, Bgy. Sta Maria, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Weighbridge in Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC) Weighbridge in San Bernardino Road, Subic Port District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales; and Mega Subic Terminal Services, Inc. (MSTSI) weighbridge in NSD Compound, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales.
The management said having these weighbridge sites in place will help reduce overloading incidents which threaten the safety of motorists as the extra load may affect the driver’s control of the vehicle. This will also protect roads from further damage and improve the efficient movement of cargo.
Last year, NLEX partnered with stakeholders in the business sector to set up weighbridge stations closer to their respective bases as part of its initiative to ease the daily operations of various companies while advancing road safety. It has also implemented the 33-ton weight limit on the Candaba Viaduct southbound as studies showed that continuous heavy loads caused great strain on the bridge.
With safety as a paramount priority, the company has been carrying out road safety programs and measures since 2005 in keeping with its mission of elevating customer experience and providing safer and more comfortable travels.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). (UnliNews Online)
