Travelers return to Metro Manila, face heavy traffic after Holy Week

Heavier traffic has been observed on Monday morning as travelers from the provinces returned to Metro Manila after a long holiday weekend during the Holy Week.

The affected roads so far are EDSA-Roxas Boulevard flyover going to Manila, C5 Eastwood going to Taguig, and EDSA-Kamuning going to Makati and Pasay cities.

At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), a total of 26,725 passengers already arrived as of 7 a.m., according to Ivan Mayrina’s report on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

The traffic going to the terminal also started to get heavy on Monday morning, the report said.

One of the passengers said that initially she was not able to obtain a ticket on Good Friday because the trips from Camarines Sur to Metro Manila were fully booked. On Black Saturday, she was able to secure a ticket for a trip scheduled on Easter Sunday.

Police assistance desks were still set up and K9 units continued to conduct inspections to ensure security and order at PITX after the Holy Week.

From March 22 to 31, a total of 1.2 million passengers were recorded at the PITX, according to the management.

On Sunday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is preparing for the return of millions of Filipinos to Metro Manila and other urban areas after the long Lenten break. 

DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista directed the agency to ensure the safe return of the travelers.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered all regional directors and other agency officials to maintain the level of alertness for road safety.

“We are expecting the start of the land travel of some of our kababayan on Sunday, March 31, so my instruction is to implement the same road safety measures before the Holy Week exodus,” Mendoza had said. 

These include the inspection of buses and information drives for road safety.

“Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na manatiling maingat sa pagbibiyahe lalo na kung kasama ang ating mga pamilya,” Mendoza said,

(We encourage the public to remain cautious when traveling, especially if we are with our families.)

“Huwag magmamaneho ng nakainom at tiyakin na may sapat na pahinga bago magmaneho. At higit sa lahat, magbaon tayo ng mahabang pasensya para maiwasan natin ang road rage dahil wala naman mabuting idinudulot ang galit sa kalsada,” he added. 

(Don’t drive if we are under the influence and make sure you are well rested before driving. And above all, let’s be patient so we can avoid road rage because road rage does nothing good.) —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News