Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the operator of expressways in the north and south of Manila, said Thursday vehicle traffic had returned to pre-pandemic level as it unveiled a travel companion app to provide a variety of mobility solutions to motorists.
“Right now, the expressway business is looking a lot better than in 2020, even last year. For this month, our traffic is already exceeding a little bit of 2019. So, we can say we are exceeding the pre-pandemic level already by February,” Rodrigo Franco, president and chief executive of MPTC, said during the virtual launch of MPT DriveHub.
The average daily vehicle entries on all its domestic tollways (NLEX, Cavitex and SCTEX) reached 535,503 in 2019, higher from 474,529 in 2018.
In 2020, average daily vehicle traffic stood at only 388,820 .
“Hopefully, there will no longer be any surge that will result in some mobility restrictions. If that holds, then we think there would be traffic growth year-on-year in the magnitude of 10 percent,” Franco said.
“With the growing demand for mobility solutions amid an accelerated digital transformation in the Philippines, we found it necessary to strengthen our pursuit for innovation,” he added.
Franco said MPT DriveHub was part of the company’s business diversification initiatives that will help realize its goal of providing the ultimate mobility experience to motorists.
MPT DriveHub enables its users to easily manage their RFID accounts.
Whether to check their balances or reload their accounts, it ensures a smoother and more efficient journey. It also allows users to easily calculate their toll fees to prepare payments ahead.
Moreover, MPT DriveHub gives its users the power of information, providing them with the necessary data to plan and schedule their journey.
With this feature, users will be able to know where the nearest pit stops are for dining, bathroom breaks, gas-ups, or even shopping for last-minute pasalubong. MPT DriveHub also provides users with relevant traffic advisory and updates.