Exodus at PITX continues on Christmas Eve after terminal hits record-high 125,000 passengers

Passengers trooped to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to catch a ride to return to their respective homes on Christmas Eve.

According to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, passengers still flocked to the terminal hours before Christmas.

The management of the terminal expected that the huge number of passengers would last until 9 p.m.

Several passengers expressed their excitement and happiness as they will return home to their provinces in time for the holidays.

“Masaya po kasi nandoon yung mga anak ko para sama-sama po kami,” passenger Marlene Bayani said.

(I'm happy because my children and I are together for Christmas.)

Meanwhile, some passengers aired their disappointments as some taxi drivers asked for higher fare during the holiday season.

“Dapat nga P300 nung nakita niya na may dala ako sabi niya magdagdag na lang daw ako ng P50, nung sinabi kong LITEX ako dagdag na naman daw ng P50 sabi ko sige na nga,” another passenger said.

(It should have been P300 but when he saw that I was carrying bags he said I should add P50, when I said LITEX, I should add another P50.)

However, other passengers said that their fares were charged based on the meters of taxis.

“Syempre doon ako sa tapat, nasa pasahero lang kasi yun kung magdadagdag sila ng pamasko sa driver,” a taxi driver said.

(Of course I'm on the fair side, it is up to the passengers if they want to add extra fare to the drivers.)

The terminal management said at least 125,000 passengers flocked to PITX on Thursday, adding that this is the highest number of passengers in a day since the terminal operated in 2019.

“The numbers we are experiencing now are higher even pre-pandemic days. So nagulat talaga tayo rito, although ini-expect natin na marami pero hindi ganito karami siguro. Naka-contribute na rito ‘yung revenge travel na sinasabi nila,” PITX spokesman Jason Salvador said.

(We were really surprised, although we expected a lot of passengers but not as many as today. They said that revenge travel has already contributed to this.)

The PITX terminal management also expected a high number of passengers after the holidays next week. —NB, GMA News