San Miguel Corp. said its expressway business remains fully operational despite the significant drop in vehicle traffic due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to contain the spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
San Miguel said the tollways unit reported an 80-percent percent drop in vehicle volume from an average of 300,000 daily at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), which connects Metro Manila to Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Quezon, to as far as the Bicol region in the first two weeks of the ECQ that started March 15.
“Our toll roads are very important links to keeping the supply chain of essential goods dynamic and despite the slowdown in traffic, we are committed to keeping them fully operational,” said San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang.
Ang recently stressed the loss of business and profits at this time when the country is dealing with a global pandemic, is not nearly as important as saving lives.
“Saving lives is always more important than money. We need to have a healthy population, reduce the number of individuals who can potentially get sick and die. We can always rebuild and make money in the process. Once a life is lost, it’s gone forever,” he said.
San Miguel reported that some 2,000 doctors and nurses had already availed of toll-free RFID stickers valid at the STAR tollway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway system, NAIAX and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
“We started this initiative not only to show support for our medical frontliners and government but also to inspire more businesses to step up their responses all the more and play their part in fighting the battle against COVID-19,” said Ang.
“We know this is a small thing, considering the significance of what of our doctors and nurses are faced with everyday, but this is one way we can serve them as they serve our country,” he added.
Ang assured the public that all SMC Infrastructure-operated tollways would continue to be operational and would extend full support to the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines in enforcing the Luzon-wide quarantine, while ensuring the unimpeded flow of essential goods and personnel.
“Our tollway employees continue to do their jobs and are committed to serving motorists on essential travel,” he said.