With only a couple of days left before millions of Filipinos embark on their summer trips to their hometowns and vacation spots, and Catholic devotees go on their annual pilgrimages, the following mobility-related companies have expressed their readiness to help our road users. They also share useful and practical tips for motorists to help make their trips safer and more convenient.
All-in-one travel app
MPT Mobility stressed that major expressways leading to the provinces tend to get jam-packed with vehicles, especially starting on Holy Wednesday. Avoid last-minute panic and prep ahead with MPT DriveHub, an all-in-one travel app that lets you tap and track, and reload your Easytrip RFID and get regular traffic updates across MPTC expressways. If you still don’t have an RFID sticker, you can visit the EasyTrip website or book an appointment through the Online RFID Reservation and Appointment System (Orras) via MPT DriveHub.
Book activities in advance and avoid peak hours if you can. And if you’re traveling with kids or seniors, a bit of extra prep (snacks, meds, and entertainment) will save you a lot of stress.
Hotels and resorts tend to fill up weeks, even months, before Holy Week, especially in popular destinations like Tagaytay, Baguio, or La Union. If you haven’t booked anything yet, don’t bank on last-minute deals. Consider alternative stays or explore lesser-known spots. Sometimes, the hidden gems turn out to be the most memorable.
If you’re heading out of town, keep in mind that many businesses in the city may close or operate on shortened hours during Holy Week. It’s a good idea to plan your stops and stock up on essentials before hitting the road. And if you’re heading back to Manila after the break, NLEX Drive and Dine is a convenient spot to grab a quick meal or take a breather before reaching the metro.
You’ll likely see more police presence and checkpoints across tollways and terminals. This is all part of MPTC’s Arangkada Assistance Program—formerly known as Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko (SMSK)—which has been around since 2007 to support motorists during peak travel seasons. From emergency roadside assistance to on-ground traffic management, this initiative helps keep your travel smooth and stress-free.
Though it’s summer, April marks the start of the dry-to-wet season shift. A sunny morning can quickly turn into a rainy afternoon. Pack umbrellas or raincoats just in case, and double-check weather forecasts before heading out.
Looking for travel inspiration? Whether you’re exploring Luzon or heading down south to Cebu, you can find fresh destination ideas and local gems by checking out the NLEX Lakbay Norte or Biyaheng South Facebook pages. For those driving around Cebu, the CCLEX Facebook page is a great resource for scenic spots and route trips.
Before any long drive, inspect your vehicle, follow speed limits, and take breaks at toll service facilities (TSFs) to recharge. And for faster, cashless toll transactions, make sure your RFID is installed and loaded. Setting your RFID as a “favorite” on MPT DriveHub makes it easier to monitor and reload anytime.
MPT Mobility is a Metro Pacific Tollways Corp (MPTC) subsidiary that supports key tollways such as the NLEX (North Luzon Expressway), SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), Cavitex (Cavite Expressway), and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLex).
Expressway traffic management in sync with LGUs
Meanwhile, SMC Infrastructure said it has rolled out preparations for the anticipated surge in vehicular traffic along its expressways beginning Monday, April 14.
The company said it has put in place traffic management plans for its tollways, namely the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and coordinated this with various local government units.
The company said it anticipates heavy traffic particularly at interchanges linking its tollways to national highways and other expressways, and has advised motorists to plan their trips well for the upcoming holidays.
“Our instruction to our operations personnel is to make sure that our traffic management plans are in sync with the different towns and cities so that traffic flows smoothly along public roads. When public roads are congested, motorists along our carriageways are also affected as traffic can extend to the exits and onto the main line,” explained SMC chair and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
“We hope that through close and constant collaboration with traffic management teams of LGUs, we can help reduce traffic buildups especially at critical points of convergence within our towns and cities,” he added.
The company’s contingency measures include increasing the deployment of tollway personnel such as patrollers and emergency responders, to assist those in need.
It also reminded motorists of measures they can take to contribute to the overall improvement of the traffic situation along expressways. This includes ensuring their Autosweep RFID accounts are topped, to avoid unnecessary queueing at toll plazas. Reloading Autosweep RFID accounts is widely available through online banking apps, e-wallets, over-the-counter desks, and payment kiosks.
and in real-time via e-money payment
facilities like GCash
For motorists who have yet to register for an Autosweep RFID account, the company reiterated that stickers remain free of charge, and users can load the exact amount of toll they will use. Replacement of stickers which have deteriorated over time also remain free of charge.
The company also advised cash-paying motorists to switch to Autosweep RFID electronic toll collection, as this is a much faster, more convenient method of payment that also contributes to shorter queueing times at toll plazas.
SMC Infrastructure has also stopped all roadworks and construction activities at expressways to help ensure traffic flow will not be disrupted. This started 12 p.m. of Friday, April 11, and will end at 10 p.m. of Monday, April 21.
Further enhancing Holy Week preparations on major expressways is Petron Corp’s Lakbay Alalay program, the country’s longest-running motorist assistance initiative.
Petron will provide free motorist assistance, clean restrooms, and limited freebies from brand partners at Petron Marilao (NLEX), Petron San Pedro (SLEX), and Petron TPLex northbound on April 16 and 17.
On April 20, Lakbay Alalay will be at Petron Bocaue (NLEX), Petron KM 44 northbound, and TPLex southbound
Toyota PH offers free vehicle safety checks
Leading mobility company Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has announced that it will be offering customers free vehicle safety inspections until April 16, 2025.
The 21-point vehicle safety inspection includes checking of brakes, tires, lights, and even under the hood. This is to ensure that the vehicle is safe and road-trip ready for long drives.
The free vehicle safety inspection can be availed of at any authorized Toyota dealership or service center nationwide.
Customers who will avail of additional services during their free vehicle safety inspection will receive a free Caltex SavePlus card. The card can be used to get a discount of P2 per liter for gasoline and P1 per liter for diesel.
To view the complete list of Toyota dealers, and for more information on the pre-Holy Week motorist assistance, visit the official website (toyota.com.ph). Follow TMP on Facebook, Instagram and X, and join the ToyotaPH community on Viber to get the latest updates on products, services, and promos.
Honda’s ‘HEAT’ in action
Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI) announces its Honda Emergency Assistance Team (HEAT) program, which supports Honda’s global safety slogan, ‘Safety for Everyone’.
Honda vehicle owners may travel without worry as Honda Cars dealerships will be open from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday (April 14 to 16). With the HEAT program, dealerships that are offering HEAT this year are ready to serve customers as well from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday (April 17-20), except on April 18, Good Friday. Should the need arise, Honda owners may visit any of the 23 Honda dealers listed below to avail of the following services through HEAT: Free 18-point safety check-up; safety recall campaign; and emergency assistance.
HCPI also reminds all motorists to check that all cars are in good running condition before hitting the road by following “blowbagets” (brakes, lights, oil, water, battery, air, gas, engine, tires, and self) before leaving home. Always keep Honda vehicles safe and ready to go by following the prescribed periodic maintenance schedule at the nearest dealership.
Learn more about taking care of your Honda vehicle, and book your service appointments, by visiting the official website (hondaphil.com).