Heavy traffic greets motorists, commuters on Day 1 of GCQ in Metro Manila

Motorists and commuters were met with heavy traffic in Metro Manila on Monday morning, the first day of general community quarantine (GCQ).

On Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran, Parañaque City, traffic was bumper-to-bumper on the way to Manila.

Vehicles bound for Manila crowd Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran, Paranaque City during the first day of general community quarantine in Metro Manila on Monday, June 1, 2020. Majority are private vehicles since public transportation is still limited under GCQ, making it difficult for thousands of workers to return to their work after more than two months of enhanced community quarantine stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Danny Pata

On EDSA, traffic on both the northbound and southbound lanes to and from the underpass in Cubao, Quezon City was already heavy at 6:30 a.m., GMA News' Jonathan Andal said on Twitter.

LOOK: (As of 6:30am) Mabigat na ang daloy ng trapiko sa magkabilang linya ng EDSA-Cubao. Sa bandang kanan, makikita ang mga pasaherong nagaabang naman ng masasakyang bus @gmanews pic.twitter.com/3RoHPL90ek

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) May 31, 2020

On Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City, private vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles were already traveling at 5:29 a.m., according to Super Radyo dzBB's Weng Salvacion.

#BantayBiyahe: Marami na ang sasakyan sa Elliptical Road sa Quezon City kaninang kuha 5:29 a.m. | via @wengsalvacion pic.twitter.com/mTI6M9I8YU

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 31, 2020

After two months under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and two weeks under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), Metro Manila shifted to the less strict GCQ on Monday, as part of measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

With the shift to the GCQ came the easing of several restrictions, opening the door for more businesses and other sectors such as transportation to resume operations.

Public transportation reopened, albeit on a limited basis, capped at 30% of capacity prior to the quarantines.

Only trains, bus augmentation units, taxis, transport network vehicle services, shuttle services, point-to-point buses and bicycles are allowed to operate from June 1 to 21, the first phase of the resumption of public transportation.

Tricycles are allowed subject to the approval of the concerned local government unit, while provincial buses are still barred from entering and exiting Metro Manila during the period.

With the limited public transportation available, commuters on the way to work on Monday in industries and businesses allowed to operate under GCQ had to make do with what transportation was available. —KG, GMA News