Passengers flock to Araneta Center bus terminal 3 days before polls

Three days before the national elections, commuters started flocking to bus terminals to go to the provinces.

At the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, passengers began arriving early Friday hoping to book trips before the weekend rush, a report on Unang Balita by Vonne Aquino said.

A later report on News To Go on Friday morning however said buses at Araneta Center Bus Terminal were already fully booked.

Many passengers are heading to the provinces not just to take advantage of the long weekend but also to vote in their precincts in their hometowns.

Monday, May 9, has been declared a special non-working holiday by President Benigno Aquino III "to enable the people to properly exercise their right of suffrage."

On social media, some netizens said the bus terminals were already crowded as early as Thursday.

Some commuters had difficulty getting bus tickets since there were not enough buses.

Others said the heat was unbearable in some terminals since ventilation was not enough.

Earlier, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued special permits to 424 bus units, allowing them to traverse routes other than their usual operational routes to serve the increased demand during the long weekend. 

Special permits will be in effect from May 7 to May 11.

LTFRB Board Member Ariel Inton said there will be strict measures in terminals to catch colorum buses operating without the necessary permits.

Meanwhile, Inton warned bus operators and politicians against using special permits issued for provincial buses in transporting flying voters this coming polls. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG, GMA News