Traffic builds up on first working day under MECQ

MANILA, Philippines — There was no traffic buildup along EDSA during the first working day under the modified enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

Bottlenecks were reported along streets and major thoroughfares in the metropolis, according to MMDA traffic chief Bong Nebrija. 

“It’s the influx of private cars that overwhelmed our quarantine checkpoints,” Nebrija said on Facebook.

He said quarantine control checkpoints along EDSA were removed yesterday morning to ease traffic congestion.

“But don’t rejoice. We will establish checkpoints again in strategic places along EDSA,” Nebrija said.

Private cars and motorcycles piled up along España Boulevard in Manila, North Luzon Expressway, Marcos Highway and Coastal Road in Parañaque.

Traffic crawled along Marcos Highway because of the volume of vehicles, Nebrija said.

He showed a Facebook Live of an ambulance being escorted out of traffic along the highway yesterday.

“This is the reality. With the checkpoints, there will be delays,” Nebrija said, urging motorists to go out only on essential travel.

Expect traffic to slow down as frontliners at quarantine checkpoints take time to check if the passengers are among those authorized to travel, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said.