Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Article (news)

Nlex

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

SAN SIMON, Pampanga — The usual two-hour drive to San Simon, Pampanga via the North Luzon Expressway turned seven hours on Monday— as floods inundated a portion of the interchange.Thousands of motorists got stuck in hours-long traffic, only to be asked to return because of deep waters.Traffic in the northbound side extended to more than 8 kilometers, or until the Pulilan Exit.By 1 p.m., class 1 vehicles were instead rerouted via the Santa Rita Exit, where they can use the Maharlika Highway to CLLEX to their eventual destinations.Some had no choice but to return as they did not want to risk stalling their vehicles.&quot;Mahirap kasi sayang sa oras eh, kaya lang ang hirap naman i-risk yung sasakyan, mas malaking aberya kapag ni-risk ko yung sasakyan,&quot; said Brian Galicia, a stranded motorist.The NLEX management said they were pumping out water but this is not enough to flush out the heavy flooding.Flooding in that specific part of the expressway has been a recurring problem.For some motorists, this warrants a long-term plan instead of band-aid solutions.&quot;Dapat lumabas sila [leaders] dito para alam nila kung ano ang totoong nangyayari, napakahirap po Sir, napakahirap talaga,&quot; Bombi Posas, another stranded motorist, said.Even Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David voiced out his frustration.&quot;What makes the experience more infuriating is that the flooding in this area is not unforeseen. San Simon has flooded repeatedly during the rainy season,&quot; he wrote on social media.&quot;NLEX management knows where the vulnerable sections are. It has real-time information on road and traffic conditions. Why then are motorists not adequately warned before entering the expressway or well before reaching the flooded section, especially those driving sedans and other low-clearance vehicles that obviously cannot safely cross deep floodwaters?&quot; the Cardinal added.&quot;This is not merely an inconvenience. It is a question of motorists’ rights and public accountability,&quot; he said.Traffic remain heavy and waters still deep as of this writing.

The usual two-hour drive to San Simon, Pampanga via the North Luzon Expressway turned seven hours on Monday - as floods inundated a portion of the interchange.

The usual two-hour drive to San Simon, Pampanga via the North Luzon Expressway turned seven hours on Monday - as floods inundated a portion of the interchange.

Motorists endure up to seven hours of traffic in NLEX, only to be turned back

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Motorists endure up to seven hours of traffic in NLEX, only to be turned back

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 31, 2026 08:50 PM PHT

Read More:

NLEX

North Luzon Expressway

San Simon

traffic

floods

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