Holy Week travelers fill bus terminals as exodus begins

Passengers started flocking to several Metro Manila bus terminals as the Holy Week exodus began.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," as of Friday, many passengers have booked their tickets online to avoid the long queue for bus tickets.

“Baka po mag-fully book po kasi ung Tuguegarao,” said passenger, Meralyn Española.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) inspected some buses, particularly those traveling long distances.

The authorities also check the validity of their franchise and the bus driver's license and if the lights and horns are operational.

“Siyempre dinadatnan sila ng dilim sa daan so dapat working po lahat,” said LTFRB-NCR Inspector Gilbert Sanchez.

At the bus station in Cubao, the operation will be 24 hours starting today until April 12.

Meanwhile, the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) expects more than one million passengers until April 10 since the travel restrictions are more relaxed than the previous years.

“This is the first Holy Week or summer vacation na talagang halos wala nang restrictions,” said PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador.

Based on the data from PITX, there are only a few tickets left to Bicol on Maundy Thursday, April 6, as tickets for Tuesdays and Wednesdays are also sold out. However, many seats are still available going to Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Baguio.

For Visayas and Mindanao trips, tickets for April 4 to 6 are also the most expensive.

“It will be tough kung wala kang advance booking o kung magwawalk in ka lang but of course there will be chances pa rin naman na makakuha ka ng tickets,” said Salvador.

Moreover, the LTFRB has issued special permits with longer validity for the additional buses.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), however, will allow provincial buses to pass through EDSA from April 3 to 5, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and 24 hours from April 6 to 10.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News