Traffic heavy on Marcos Highway on second day of NCR MECQ, Rizal GCQ

Motorists were faced with heavy traffic on Marcos Highway on Sunday morning, the second day of the modified enhanced community quarantine for the National Capital Region and general community quarantine for Rizal.

Video taken by Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad showed the long line of vehicles at the boundary of Marikina City in Metro Manila and Antipolo City in Rizal.

#BantayBiyahe: (As of 9:04 am) Mabagal ang daloy ng trapiko sa Marcos Highway sa boundary ng Marikina City at Antipolo City. Ingat sa biyahe, mga Kapuso! | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/IV6uLfFVfk

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 17, 2020

Vehicles have to go through a checkpoint manned by police officers where motorists are asked about their travel purposes and documents such as quarantine passes.

The situation mirrored the heavy traffic observed on Marcos Highway and other areas of Metro Manila on Saturday.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 spokesperson retired general Restituto Padilla said they were alarmed at the excitement of the public with the start of looser quarantine restrictions on Saturday.

“Nababahala po ang NTF sa nangyari kahapon. Naging excited po ang ating mga kababayan. Ito po ay siguro ay kakulangan sa ganap na pagkaintindi sa sakit na nangyayari ngayon,” Padilla said.

“Kami po ay humihiling sa sambayanan na huminahon po tayo. Huwag tayong ma-excite,” he added.

Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga including Angeles City, Zambales and Laguna—areas previously under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) shifted to MECQ on Saturday. Cebu City and Mandaue City were placed under ECQ while the rest of the country, including Rizal, was put under GCQ, which implement more relaxed restrictions.

The quarantines have been imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. —KG, GMA News