The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered NLEX Corporation to immediately suspend toll collection for the northbound segment of the Marilao Interchange on the North Luzon Expressway until all four lanes are fully passable.
The DOTr’s decision comes after the Marilao Interchange Bridge was struck by an overheight container truck on June 19, 2025.
“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,” DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said.
DOTr said the latest incident, widely documented and circulated on various media platforms, resulted in the death of a 54-year-old traveller and serious injuries to six others.
“This is an unacceptable failure of operational diligence on your part. We emphasize that your company is a public utility operator, granted the privilege to collect tolls under a government-issued concession imbued with public interest,” DOTr said.
“As such, NLEX Corporation bears a legal and moral obligation to maintain the highest standards of safety and service, consistent with its responsibilities under the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) and applicable laws and regulations,” it added.
The DOTr noted that this tragic event occurred despite prior directives, including the Notice to Explain issued on March 20, 2025 regarding a similar overheight vehicle impact at the Marilao Interchange Bridge, and the directive dated November 13, 2024 involving the Lawang Bato Overpass.
“Your continued failure to implement comprehensive preventive protocols, including but not limited to real-time height monitoring systems, strict enforcement of entry screening for overheight vehicles, and adequate physical deterrents and warnings, demonstrates an alarming lack of proactive risk management and a grave breach of duty to the public,” DOTr said.
The NLEX has been also 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 DOTr asks for the understanding of our motorists and commuters due to this incident. The agency is expediting the repair of the affected infrastructure to immediately speed up and smooth the flow of traffic in the area,’ Dizon said.
In a separate statement, NLEX said the company is cooperating fully with the DOTr, the TRB, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident.
“The safety and well-being of our motorists is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring that appropriate measures are taken moving forward,” NLEX said.
“We are truly saddened by this incident, and our hearts go out to all those affected and their families during this difficult time. We commit our support and assistance as they navigate through this challenging situation,” it added.
NLEX said it has implemented numerous measures to enhance security and strengthen enforcement against vehicles who violate regulations.
“Notwithstanding our continuing apprehension of vehicles which violate height limits, there are still vehicles which recklessly ignore the numerous signages that clearly indicate the bridge’s height limit,” NLEX said.
“We want to emphasize the importance of following all traffic rules and regulations for the safety of everyone on the road. It is a shared responsibility to protect lives, prevent accidents, and ensure that public infrastructure remains safe and functional,” it added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “DOTr suspends NLEX toll on Marilao Interchange after new truck incident”
