NLEX Corporation and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Marilao have joined forces with the municipality’s Animal Shelter and Care Facility (ASCF) to ensure the humane rescue, care, and management of stray animals found along the expressway corridor.
The agreement was signed by NLEX president and general manager Luis S. Reñon and Marilao Mayor Atty. Jemina M. Sy. Under the partnership, the municipality’s Animal Shelter and Care Facility will serve as the turnover site for stray animals rescued along NLEX.
Strengthening road safety and animal welfare
“This partnership forms a vital part of our overarching advocacy for road safety,” said Reñon. “Through the NLEX I Care for Strays program, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting both motorists and animals. The initiative aims to reduce stray-animal-related incidents through responsible rescue operations, proper animal care, and strong collaboration with local government units.”
As part of the partnership, NLEX has established the NLEX Animal Rescue Team (ART), a specialized unit tasked with responding to reports of stray animals along the expressway. Team members underwent comprehensive training conducted by the ASCF on proper and humane animal handling and rescue techniques to ensure the safe retrieval and transport of animals to the facility.
As an added safety precaution, Animal Rescue Team members were also provided with the necessary vaccinations to help protect them from potential health risks associated with handling stray animals.
Marilao Mayor Atty. Jemina M. Sy welcomed the collaboration, noting its dual focus on road safety and animal welfare.
“We are deeply grateful to NLEX for this initiative. This marks the first time an LGU and NLEX have collaborated to achieve two vital goals: keeping our motorists safe from the hazards posed by stray animals on high-speed roads and also ensuring the welfare of the animals themselves. This successfully delivers on both,” she said.
Supporting rescued animals
To support the shelter’s operations, NLEX has pledged a monthly donation of animal feed and an ongoing commitment to help monitor the health and welfare of rescued animals.
The NLEX I Care for Strays program was launched in 2024 as part of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation’s broader Mission Road Safety Campaign. Its initial phase focused on encouraging responsible pet ownership in host communities through educational seminars, free anti-rabies vaccinations, deworming, and spay-and-neuter services.
Preventing animals from entering the highway
As the program enters its next phase, NLEX Corporation continues to implement proactive engineering and community-based measures to prevent animal intrusion along the highway. These include intensified daily perimeter fence inspections, reinforced drainage culverts, and partnerships with neighboring barangays to promote responsible pet ownership at the grassroots level.
The combination of rescue operations, shelter support, infrastructure measures, and community engagement expands the NLEX I Care for Strays program as the tollway operator works to protect motorists while improving the welfare of animals found along the expressway corridor.