Long queues form in bus terminals on Maundy Thursday

Passengers who opted to spend the long weekend in their home provinces formed long queues in bus terminals, including the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Maundy Thursday.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” long lines of passengers were seen in bus stations in Cubao, Quezon City which may possibly last until Thursday evening.

“Aabutin ito ng gabi yung sa haba ng pila. At saka hanggang seating capacity lang talaga, hindi pwede magpatayo ngayon,” Estelito Ramos, operations staff of Genesis Bus Terminal, said.

(It will last until evening due to the long queue. Passengers are accommodated according to the seating capacity of the bus.)

Out of the 50 buses that are allowed to travel, only 10 buses were permitted to do so due to travel restrictions amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Trips to Pampanga and Bataan have long queues because the passengers bought their tickets in the bus terminal.

Apart from the limited number of bus units, travelers also have to contend with traffic congestion along the way.

Several passengers eat their meals while lining up to by tickets.

“Gutom na talaga ako, ilang oras na kasing nakatayo pabalik balik lang ikot ikot lang hindi natatapos yung pila ang haba,” passenger Alice Cabunot said.

(I'm really hungry, I've been standing for a few hours and the long queue doesn't end.)

Meanwhile, walk-in passengers were having difficulty in buying tickets in the PITX, according to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report.

According to the PITX, they expected an influx of passengers on Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thursday.

The management recorded at least 162,000 passengers in the PITX on Wednesday.

“Apparently, ang daming walk-in. Mga last minute travelers. We have already requested additional units for special permits,” PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador said.

“Affected din turn around time ng mga bus since super traffic na daw sa mga expressway,” he added.

Passengers were also lined up to enter the check-in counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured that they will improve the bus service in EDSA Busway for the riding public.

“Sa ngalan ng buong kagawaran ng Transportasyon, ako ho ay taos-puso at nagpapakumbabang humihingi ng pang-unawa at patawad sa ating mga kababayan na lubhang nahirapan sa kanila-kanilang mga biyahe pauwi, lalong lalo na sa kahabaan ng EDSA Busway simula kahapon,” Tugade said.

(On behalf of the entire Department of Transportation (DOTr), I sincerely and humbly ask for the understanding and forgiveness of our fellow Filipinos who have suffered so much with their trips, especially along the EDSA Busway since yesterday.)

“Moving forward, we will make sure that what happened yesterday shall never happen again in the succeeding days. Paiigtingin po natin ang serbisyo sa ating EDSA Busway, magpapatupad ho tayo ng bus augmentations, mag-iisyu ng mga mas maraming provisional authority permits at magdaragdag ng kinakailangang manpower para bigyang assistance an gating mga mananakay,” he added.

(We will intensify the service of our EDSA Busway, we will implement bus augmentations, issue more provisional authority permits and increase the necessary manpower to provide assistance to our passengers.) -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News