Photo credit: Marilao Police

In response to the tragic incident at the Marilao Interchange on June 19, 2025, where an overheight container truck struck the bridge girder resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to several others, including a two-year-old child, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has taken decisive action.

The DOTr has directed the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation to immediately halt toll collection along the northbound segment of the Marilao interchange. This suspension will remain in effect until all four lanes are cleared and declared safe for public use. The move aims to ease the burden on motorists caught in the heavy congestion that followed the collision and to emphasize accountability in ensuring road safety.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also issued guidance to ensure commuters affected by the incident are fairly compensated for delays, discomfort, and lost time. He instructed both the DOTr and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to enforce this directive without delay.

The department underscored the urgency of supporting the victims. NLEX Corp. is required to provide full assistance to the family of the deceased as well as to those who were injured. This includes medical, financial, and logistical support, in keeping with the company’s responsibilities as a toll concessionaire operating under a government mandate.

This is not the first time the Marilao Interchange has been the site of such an incident. A similar crash involving an overheight truck occurred just three months ago. The recurrence has raised serious concerns within the DOTr regarding the operator’s risk management and infrastructure safety protocols. In response, a formal notice was issued to NLEX Corp. demanding an explanation for the repeated failure to prevent these accidents, despite earlier directives and warnings.

In the letter addressed to key NLEX officials, the DOTr expressed deep disappointment over the company’s apparent lack of preventive measures. It highlighted the absence of reliable height monitoring systems, weak enforcement at entry points, and the failure to install adequate physical deterrents for overheight vehicles. The Department emphasized that NLEX, as a public utility operator, holds a legal and moral duty to safeguard the lives of the motoring public and to uphold the integrity of its infrastructure.

As part of the government’s enforcement measures, NLEX Corp. has been ordered to submit a detailed and verifiable infrastructure safety improvement plan. This plan must include provisions for automated height detection, retrofitting of vulnerable structures, and real-time incident response protocols. The submission is due within ten working days.

Failure to comply with these orders could result in serious administrative consequences, including the potential suspension of NLEX’s toll collection privileges, or even the revocation or revision of its operating authority.

The DOTr asks for the public’s understanding and assures that restoration efforts are underway to expedite repairs and bring traffic back to normal conditions as soon as possible. It reiterates that public safety remains the top priority, and it will continue to act decisively to hold concessionaires accountable to their obligations.