Instead of a smooth trip home, thousands of passengers leaving Dagupan City after voting found themselves trapped in long lines and packed terminals with no buses in sight.

During the midterm elections, crowds of cummuters rushed to return to Metro Manila after they finished voting, expecting fewer passengers. But what greeted them at the Dagupan City bus terminal was the exact opposite—tight queues and overcrowded waiting areas.

“Dahil gusto nilang maagang umuwi, ayaw na nilang makipagsiksikan. Ngayon, sumobra yung dami ng pasahero dahil bukas pasukan na,” Jun Berida, a trainer-driver at the terminal, said.

At around 5 a.m. the following day, some commuters could still be seen waiting along the highway as chance passengers. Still unable to board for more than three hours, more moved to the terminal in hopes of catching a bus.

“Wala po. Walang dumadaan, puro punuan,” Lovely Cabico, a traveler, said.

Cabico and others joined the long queue hoping to board a Cubao-bound bus. Many were already late for work.

According to terminal officials, the shortage of buses remains a big problem. After heavy traffic over the election weekend, many units from Cubao and Pasay were still recovering from the trip back to Pangasinan.

“Yung mga bus po napagod na noong nakaraang pauwi dito galing Cubao-Pasay,” Berida said.

Terminal staff said at least 5,000 passengers were served from May 12 to early morning on May 13.