MANILA, Philippines — The local governments of Quezon City and Valenzuela City have conducted dry run activities for their COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

In Valenzuela City, around 40 residents participated in the dry run, where they went through body temperature checks and disinfection before entering the vaccination site.

They also went through registration and validation before counseling. Counseling covered discussion on the importance of vaccination and its possible side effects. Participants then proceeded to the screening area before vaccination to verify if their health is capable of taking in the vaccine.

According to Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, the dry run is needed to ensure residents are prepared in receiving the vaccines and health protocols are implemented.

Valenzuela City also targets the vaccination rollout to begin in July where 17 vaccination sites will be used.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Health Department held a demonstration on the vaccination process which includes presenting QCitizen IDs, counseling, and screening. -AAC (with reports from Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Wednesday (January 20) that it targets to open the 5-kilometer portion of the NLEX Connector by the end of 2021.

The first 5 kilometers of the NLEX Connector links Caloocan Interchange, C3 and España Boulevard in Manila.

“Spanning a total of eight kilometers, the DPWH said the full NLEX Connector will be an all vehicle class elevated expressway that will traverse the C3 Road in Caloocan City pass through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, España, Magsaysay Boulevard and eventually connect with the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa in Manila,” the DPWH said.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the project aims to ease traffic along EDSA.

The full NLEX Connector that spans 8 kilometers will feature four toll plazas and interchanges from C3 and España.

It is expected to reduce travel time between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway from two hours to just 20 minutes.

The 23-billion project is also seen to provide better access to Manila Ports (North Harbor) and airports (NAIA and Clark).

“Kapag natapos itong connector lalong luluwag ang EDSA kasi lahat ng trucks na galing sa port magkakaroon ng option na mag NLEX or mag SLEX (As soon as the connector is completed, EDSA will be decongested as all trucks from the port will have the option to use either the NLEX or SLEX),” he said.

Villar said as they strive to complete the first 5 kilometers, they will also target to complete the NLEX Connector up to Sta. Mesa, Manila before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends. —AAC (with reports from Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines – Nagpakalat na ang pamunuan ng North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) ng mahigit 1,200 marshalls para sa inaasahang pagdagsa ng mga motorista ngayong holiday season.

Ayon sa NLEX, ang mga marshall ay itatalaga sa security patrols, emergency response at radio-frequency identification (RFID) assistance.

Inaasahan ng toll operator ang bahagyang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga bibiyahe para samantalahin ang mahabang holiday.

Sa tala ng NLEX, nasa 288,000 mga sasakyan ang dumaan sa NLEX pati na sa SCTEX nitong buwan ng Nobyembre at inaasahang tataas ito ng 10 hanggang 12 porsiyento ngayong holiday season.

Tiniyak naman ng NLEX Corporation na mananatiling nakabukas ang cash lanes para sa mga motoristang wala pang RFID tag at ngayon lamang ulit dadaan sa expressway.

“Expect a little more queues as we near Christmas… You can see our motorists who have not gotten their RFID stickers. They still have to queue on the cash lanes. But we are trying to move it as fast as possible,” ang pahayag ni Atty. Junji Quimbo, Senior Vice President ng NLEX Corporation.

Mananatili ring bukas ang cash entry lanes sa South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAx), STAR at Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) para sa mga hindi pa nagpapakabit ng RFID sticker.

Sa ngayon ay maluwag pa ang sitwasyon ng trapiko sa Balintawak toll plaza bagaman may kaunting build up sa cash lanes.

Ayon kay Quimbo, nakatulong para maibsan ang mabigat na trapiko sa toll plazas ang pag-aalis sa RFID installation booths sa mismong toll gates.

“The instances of glitches are going down, we, of course, record every possible glitch that happens but the smoother flow in traffic at the toll gates especially along the RFID lanes have shown improvements. There are no more long queues there,” ang pahayag ni Quimbo. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Harlene Delgado)