It’s that time of the year again, and most of us will be driving back to our home provinces to pay our respects to our departed loved ones. This will also be the best time to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

But before we start enjoying our vacations, we first have to deal with the quirks that come with the occasion. Our roads will be packed. The queues of vehicles at tollgates will surely be kilometric. And our travel times will be longer. Good thing various companies and government agencies will be there to assist holiday travelers.

Here is a list of the companies and their respective motorist-assistance campaigns for Undas 2022.

SMC Tollways, the operator of the South Luzon Expressway, the STAR Tollways, the Skyway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, says that motorists can call its hotline at (02) 5318-8655. Or they can visit any of its Undas Desk Assistance Stations in various locations.

For Metro Pacific Tollways, it will hold its perennial “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” campaign. The toll road operator will intensify its operations. MPTC will deploy 1,000 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security officers, incident response teams, and toll lane personnel to ensure a seamless flow of vehicles and smooth toll operations.

Additionally, it will offer free towing services for Class 1 vehicles to the nearest exit for all of its tollways (North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, and CAVITEX).

For the government, the Department of Public Works and Highways will reactivate its “Lakbay Alalay” motorist-assistance program. This program will be in effect until noon of November 2.

During this period, uniformed and crew personnel will be on standby, equipped with maintenance equipment. The DPWH workforce will be available around the clock to provide emergency assistance, clear the roads of obstructions, and fix potholes.

The Department of Transportation, the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Philippine National Police, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and various local government units will also deploy hundreds of their personnel. They will ensure smooth traffic flow and provide necessary assistance to the public as the need arises.

But before you enjoy your long weekend, make sure that you and your vehicles are in tip-top shape. And plan your trips accordingly.