NLEX Corporation achieved another milestone as it becomes the first and only tollway company in the country to be certified for ISO 39001. This certification is awarded for effective road safety standards and initiatives, aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries caused by road accidents.

This development came after the tollway company successfully passed rigorous audits for ISO 39001:2012 Road Traffic Safety Management System (RTSMS).

Leveraging on the 3Es (engineering, enforcement, education) of road safety, NLEX Corporation has been commended by its certifying body, DQS Holdings GmbH, for continuously maintaining and upgrading the NLEX-SCTEX; having comprehensive emergency response processes and crash investigation reports; and implementing proactive programs that communicate safety to various stakeholders be it online or on the ground, among other things.

The company is also conforming to the United Nations’ Five Pillars for Road Safety that include road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response.

DQS Certification Philippines Inc. Managing Director Romeo Zamora said the tollway company has been a trailblazer when it comes to the safety of its road networks, adding that the RTSMS will be beneficial in enhancing customer experience.

“As with the other ISO management system standards, adopting the ISO 39001 will help the organization improve its performance. This will also contribute to the UN Global Plan on road safety aimed at reducing deaths and injuries brought by road crashes, and establishing safe transport for the public,” Zamora said.

NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista noted that the recognition would mean being more accountable to the company’s stakeholders.

“We are elated and proud to have achieved another milestone in the company’s history. This validates and solidifies our firm commitment to make NLEX-SCTEX safe for our road users. We will make sure to uphold these principles, processes, and practices as we consistently adhere to the ISO 39001 standards,” he said.

Bautista mentioned that road safety is one of the customer value propositions it brings to motorists, and the company strives to continuously improve its infrastructure, promote safe operations, and develop programs that will increase safety awareness and responsiveness.

Among the safety campaigns the company is implementing are the “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program which is conducted during peak travel seasons to manage the surge in holiday traffic; the Usapang Driver program wherein drivers from transport companies are oriented on safe expressway driving; and the Kaligtasan sa Daan or KalSaDa road safety education program for host communities.

It also uses communication channels like NLEXpress, a publication which features road safety tips and company projects, and posts safety reminders on social media to further educate the public on road safety.

Recently, NLEX was recertified for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001: 2018 for the effective implementation of its integrated management systems (IMS) on quality, environment, and occupational health and safety.