Modified checkpoints to ease traffic as some biz reopen

FILE: Traffic builds up along Marcos Highway at the boundary of Pasig-Cainta during the rush hour on Tuesday (May 19, 2020). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) on Thursday said it will implement modified checkpoints in Metro Manila and other urban areas nationwide to ease traffic congestion, as more vehicles are expected to ply roads with the partial resumption of business operations.

“With the downgrading of community quarantine status in almost all areas in the country, there is a significant increase in motor vehicles everywhere. There are times where we cannot check all vehicles passing through our fixed checkpoints since this could create monstrous traffic congestion, which will defeat the purpose of partially reopening the economy,” said JTF CV Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement.

The move seeks to prevent long queues of vehicles at quarantine control points (QCPs), especially that more people are now allowed to go out due to lifting of some restrictions under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and the general community quarantine (GCQ) which took effect on May 16.

He added that QCPs, based on the situation on the ground, can adjust by conducting modified checkpoints or random checking to minimize traffic congestion and public inconvenience.

At present, there are more than 4,000 QCPs still set up across the country to continuously restrict the unnecessary movement of the people amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Eleazar said the modified checkpoints are aimed at improving the movement of vehicles entering Metro Manila and urban areas.

“We expect more vehicles to travel in these areas that is why we have to modify the implementation of checkpoints for the convenience of the motorists,” he added.

In modified checkpoints, Eleazar said policemen and soldiers manning the QCPs will still check the vehicles if the persons on board are Authorized Person Outside Residence (APOR), observing the rules on physical distancing, and wearing face masks.

“But once there is already a traffic build-up, the checking could be stopped temporarily to allow all the vehicles to pass freely. The strict checking of vehicles will resume if the traffic situation normalizes anew,” he added.

 (with reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)