Voters hoping to cast their ballots in the provinces crowd PITX

A few days before the elections, a significant number of travelers trooped to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to secure trips going to their home provinces where they hope to cast their ballots on election day.

According to John Consulta’s “24 Oras Weekend” report on Saturday, only those passengers who secured tickets early were the ones able to get seats back to their provinces as some destinations were already fully booked.

Furthermore, the PITX said some buses were booked for use in political or campaign sorties, especially on the miting de avance.

“Bukod kasi sa pagtaas ng bilang ng mga pasahero, nagkakataon na karamihan sa kanila ay hinihiram na rin sa mga political or campaign sorties lalong lalo na maraming miting de avance na magaganap,” PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador said.

(Apart from the increase in the number of passengers, most of the buses were also borrowed for political or campaign sorties, especially since there were many mitings de avance taking place.)

Some passengers were still waiting in long queues to secure trips in their provinces to vote on election day.

“First time ko pong bumoto so gustong gusto ko po talaga makauwi. Naubusan po kami ng slots,” a passenger said.

(I will vote for the first time so I want to go home. There are no more available slots.)

“Pumunta lang po kami dito para sumubok na makabili ng ticket papuntang Daet, pero wala po talaga. Ang mga van naman ang mamahal ang charge P3,000 or P2,500,” another passenger said.

(We just came here to try to buy a ticket to Daet, but there is nothing. The vans will charge P3,000 or P2,500

The management of the PITX asked for more buses from the bus companies to service the increased number of passengers a day before the elections.

“Inaanticipate na natin to kaya tayo ay nakipagugnayan sa MMDA, DOTr, at LTFRB upang tulungan tayo maghanap ng additional units, kaya kung sakasakaling magkulang meron tayong pampuno,” Salvador said.

(We are already anticipating this so we have contacted MMDA, DOTr, and LTFRB to help us find additional units, so in case we are short we have a replacement.) — Richa Noriega/DVM, GMA News