After the long weekend of Holy Week, many people are coming back to Metro Manila, causing a lot of traffic on Monday morning. Roads like the EDSA-Roxas Boulevard flyover to Manila, C5 Eastwood to Taguig, and EDSA-Kamuning to Makati and Pasay are very busy. At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), over 26,000 passengers had arrived by early morning.

Metro Manila Welcomes Back Holiday Travelers with Heavy Traffic
traffic congestion in Metro Manila
(Photo : Screenshot image taken from INQUIRER.net on YouTube)

Heavy Traffic in Metro Manila as Travelers Return After Holy Week

During Holy Week, many people from Metro Manila visit provinces. But when they return, roads become crowded. This Monday, the traffic is heavier than usual. In places like the EDSA-Roxas Boulevard flyover and C5 Eastwood, cars move slowly as everyone tries to get back to their homes or work, GMA News reported.

At PITX, a big bus station, the crowd started to grow early. By 7 a.m., thousands of passengers had already come back. Some travelers had trouble getting bus tickets earlier in the holiday, but managed to find a way back by Easter Sunday. The police and K9 units are there to make sure everyone is safe.

From March 22-31, PITX saw 1.2 million people pass through. The Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office are working hard to keep travel safe as millions return to Metro Manila and other cities. They're checking buses and teaching people how to stay safe on the road. They remind everyone to drive safely, especially when with family, not to drink and drive, to rest well before driving, and to be patient to avoid road rage.

This return to Metro Manila after Holy Week shows how busy the city can get as everyone comes back from their holidays, looking forward to getting back to their daily lives.

Related Article: Metro Manila Named World's Most Congested City in Latest Traffic Report

Road Repairs Cause Big Traffic Jams in Metro Manila

In Metro Manila, the first day back to work and school after the Holy Week break was tough for drivers. Big traffic jams happened because road repairs were not finished on time. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported slow-moving traffic, especially on the southbound lane of EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City, during the busy morning hours.

According to Phil Star Global, the MMDA pointed out several spots where traffic was worst. These included areas along EDSA southbound at Kaingin Road, Dario Bridge U-turn slot, West Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Scout Borromeo, and Annapolis. These problems started around 6 a.m.

Not just EDSA, but major roads in Quezon City and Pasay also saw heavy traffic. This was because many people were coming back to Metro Manila from the provinces. Online, drivers shared pictures showing open manholes and workers fixing roads, which added to the traffic mess.

Acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that out of 40 planned roadworks along EDSA, 24 were not done on time. These unfinished projects stretched from West Avenue in Quezon City to Boni Serrano Avenue in Mandaluyong. 

The deadline was 5 a.m. that day. Now, the companies responsible for the roadworks might have to pay a big fine of P50,000 for every day the work is not done. They could also be stopped from getting permits for future road works.

Read Also: Manila's NAIA Ranked Fourth Worst Airport in Asia by Business Travelers