Thousands ignore ECQ, cause traffic jams in metro

MANILA: Even as COVID-19 cases rose beyond 5,000 cases yesterday, the most in Southeast Asia, a surprising number of Filipinos hit the streets and overloaded major roads and checkpoints in Metro Manila.

On the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) a high number of vehicles were seen along the northbound lane that caused heavy traffic kilometers long. Congestion was also caused by strict checkpoint measures that ensured motorists had a good reason to be on the road and were following physical distancing rules.

“All cars were intercepted and those inside were being asked if they were authorized to pass through. We also looked at their social distancing,” said Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield.

Traffic along SLEX (northbound) also spilled over into Alabang as a huge number of vehicles were observed driving around the commercial center and along the National Road that also caused the congestion to stretch all the way to Tunasan.

In Parañaque, personnel at the checkpoint noted how a majority of motorists on the road yesterday reasoned that they were only out to buy essential goods but there were more than two or three passengers in the vehicle. Others said they were just passing through, but could not provide a qualified answer as to why they were headed to the next city. Some were observed to be using the quarantine pass to simply loiter.

During the Easter weekend, heavy traffic was also noticeable near Balintawak and Nepa Q Mart in Quezon City.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), EDSA had more traffic yesterday compared to the past weeks, which prompted them to consider issuing fines to motorists parked too long in front of wet markets, groceries, money exchange centers, banks, and establishment offering money transfer services.

“Napansin naman na compared to the first and the second week of the quarantine na bibihira ang sasakyan, talagang mabibilang mo sa daliri, eh ngayon it’s more than that. Actually, coming from Makati going to Timog, talagang it’s more than usual. (We noticed that compared to the first and second week of the quarantine when there were very few vehicles that you can actually count with your finger, now it is more than that. Actually coming from Makati going to Timog, it was really more than usual),” said MMDA EDSA Traffic Head, Edison "Bong" Nebrija.

Last night, the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) already deployed personnel along the entire stretch of EDSA with the intention of apprehending private vehicles traveling without proper authorization during the quarantine period.

Photo from the Philippine Star's FB Page