Workers in establishments allowed to open amid quarantine face transport problem

With public transportation suspended on Tuesday due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, commuters who had to get to work had difficulty getting to their destinations.

On España Avenue near the corner of Blumentritt Road in Manila, a police officer at a checkpoint was seen stopping a UV Express and ordering passengers to alight.

A cop stops a UV Express van at a checkpoint at the corner of Blumentritt Road and España Avenue in Manila on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2020 and asks passengers to go home instead. Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine starting 12 a.m. on March 17 as part of efforts to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Danny Pata

On Quirino Highway in Caloocan City, commuters were seen standing next to each other as vehicles were also stopped, according to a report by Ralph Obina on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Mahabang pila ng mga sasakyan, nararanasan sa Quirino Highway palabas ng Caloocan City. #BantayCOVID19 via @ralphobina pic.twitter.com/oIAP5YtAG6

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

Meanwhile, on Bonifacio Drive in Manila, police officers stopped tricycles and motorcycle riders with back riders, according to a report by Isa Umali on Dobol B sa News TV.

WATCH: Sa checkpoint ng MPD sa Bonifacio Drive sa Maynila, ang mga tricycle na overloaded at mga motor rider na may angkas ay sinisita. #BantayCOVID19 via @Isa_Umali pic.twitter.com/1kACbzGnf8

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

On East Bank Road in Pasig City, a doctor on the way to the hospital could not get through the checkpoint due to the volume of traffic, according to a report by Mark Makalalad on Dobol B sa News TV.

WATCH: Isang doktor, hindi makapasok sa trabaho sa ospital dahil naipit sa checkpoint sa East Bank Road sa Pasig City; Hindi makadaan ang kanyang sasakyan dahil sa mabigat na daloy ng trapiko. #BantayCOVID19 via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/RXAL0M3Sxs

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

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced Luzon will be placed under enhanced community quarantine to address the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The quarantine took effect at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, and will run until April 12.

Residents will not be allowed to go out of their homes except for essential travel such as buying basic necessities.

Only private establishments providing basic necessities will be allowed to remain open during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Workers for such establishments will be allowed to go out, but public transportation is not available. —KG, GMA News