The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. to immediately suspend collection of toll in the Marilao northbound segment of the expressway until all four lanes are passable and issued a “show cause order” to the tollway operator for “non-compliance with safety regulations.”
DOTr Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon issued the order to NLEX Corp. after the Marilao Interchange Bridge was again struck by an overheight container truck on June 18, 2025.
In issuing the order o June 19, 2025, Dizon expressed disappointment and concern over the recurring incidents of overheight vehicles striking critical infrastructure on the North Luzon Expressway, the most recent of which occurred on June 18, 2025.
Dizon noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the DOTr and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to ensure that motorists and commuters who will use the affected expressway will be compensated for the lost time, and exhaustion due to traffic caused by the incident.
With that, NLEX Corp. has been directed to extend the necessary assistance to the bereaved family after one person died, as well as to the other injured passengers, including a two-year-old infant, who were hit by the bridge girder because of the vehicle mishap. The concessionaire was ordered to explain the seemingly lack of oversight after a similar incident happened barely three months ago.
The directive further states that the suspension of toll collection shall remain in force until public convenience, safety, and normal traffic flow are satisfactorily restored.
On the show cause order, the tollway operator has been directed to submit a written explanation within three working days from receipt of the notice, justifying why the DOTr should not impose administrative sanctions, including possible suspension or modification of its toll collection privileges for non-compliance with safety obligations.
In addition, the DOTr has given NLEX 10 working days to submit a concrete and verifiable preventive infrastructure plan to include automated overheight vehicle detection systems, structure retrofitting, and protocols for real-time incident reporting and rapid response.
Failure to comply with the DOTr directives shall mean imposition of full regulatory sanctions, such as administrative penalties, suspension of toll collection rights, and revocation or amendment of its operating authority under the Toll Regulatory Board and the DOTr.
