NCR commuters allot more time to get to work amid limited transpo during GCQ Week 2

Commuters braced themselves for another challenging workday on Monday as Metro Manila still has limited transportation available during the second week of general community quarantine (GCQ). 

At the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) GMA-Kamuning Station at 7 a.m., a long line of commuters formed to get inside the station, GMA News' Mai Bermudez reported on Unang Balita.

Some of them said they were in line since 5 a.m. to get on the platform.

Sitwasyon sa pila ng mga pasahero ng MRT sa GMA Kamuning Station @gmanews pic.twitter.com/5B3Rn6mrOA

— Mai Bermudez (@MaiBermudezGMA) June 7, 2020

At the MRT3 Cubao-Araneta station, however, there was no line of commuters.

The MRT3, Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 resumed operations on June 1 when Metro Manila was placed under GCQ, but only a few passengers are allowed per train to ensure social distancing.

At the LRT1 station in Monumento, the line of passengers was also long but orderly on Monday, according to a report by Darlene Cay on Unang Balita.

Some passengers said they have allotted two to four hours for their commute to work.

One of them, a construction worker named Ibrahim, said he was at the LRT1 Monumento station at past 4 a.m. He walked from his home to get to the station.

All LRT1 passengers go through the health protocols at the station such as temperature checking as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Bus augmentation units were also available at the foot of LRT1 Monumento station to ferry commuters.

Starting Monday, more buses will be deployed from this station.

Fifty-four buses will service the Monumento to Valenzuela Gateway Complex route (Bus Route 3), while 105 buses will ply the Monumento to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan route (Bus Route 21).

Meanwhile, at the LRT2 Cubao station, passengers wearing face masks had to step on foot baths and have their body temperature checked before they were allowed inside, GMA News' Mariz Umali reported on Unang Balita.

Yellow markings were also placed on the floor to guide commuters in observing social distancing while in line. 

The government allowed more bus routes starting Monday to service commuters.

Aside from Bus Routes 3 and 21 from Monumento, Bus Route 11 will also start on Monday, plying from Gilmore to Taytay.

On Friday, June 5, the government opened Bus Routes 1 (Monumento-Balagtas, Bulacan), 17 (EDSA-Montalban, Rizal), and 18 (NAIA Loop).

The Department of Transportation earlier said they aim to open a total of 31 bus routes which are part of the gradual and calibrated approach in the resumption of public transportation.

Mass public transportation was suspended in mid-March when the government placed Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19. —KG, GMA News