With Christmas fast approaching, bus trips to the Bicol Region from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) are now fully booked.
According to a Saturday report by Jonathan Andal on 24 Oras Weekend, passengers bound for Bicol have been forming long lines, with no available seats until December 24. Some have been waiting for hours, hoping for a chance to secure a ride.
At bus terminals along EDSA, passengers are also experiencing delays as buses from Bicol cannot immediately return to Manila.
“Lahat ng buses na dumarating dito sa Maynila, puro delayed. Ang epekto niyan sa mga chance passengers at regular passengers namin, naghihintay po sila,” said Dawfer Lopez, a bus company operations offcer.
(All the buses returning to Manila are delayed. This has led to long waits for our chance passengers and regular passengers.)
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inspected the situation at the Manila North Port and boarded a passenger ship for review.
Similar to the Bicol bus routes, ship trips to Cebu and Bacolod are also fully booked until December 24.
“Huwag na pong mag-take ng chance or mag-chance passenger sa pantalan. Huwag na po silang pumunta rito kung walang ticket,” advised Francis Chua, a shipping line official.
(Don’t take a chance or come to the port without a ticket.)
PITX management reported a surge in daily passengers, reaching an average of 170,000 amid the Christmas travel rush.
To address the holiday demand, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued 956 special permits for public utility vehicles.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that provincial buses can use EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Friday.
From December 26, 2024, to January 2, 2025, provincial buses will be allowed to use EDSA 24 hours a day. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News
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