Bus terminals packed, RFID card installation lanes long ahead of BSKE, Undas break

Filipinos flocked to bus terminals and expressways on Sunday, ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and All Saints' Day (Undas) break.

At bus terminals on EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City, passengers formed long lines before dawn, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.

LOOK: As of 5:30 am, mahaba na rin ang pila ng mga pasahero sa Baliwag Transit sa EDSA-Cubao, Quezon City. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/K4VNVUrNzh

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 28, 2023

Passengers were also seen waiting at the Araneta City Bus Port in Cubao for their trips.

LOOK: Sitwasyon sa Araneta City Bus Port sa Cubao, Quezon City @dzbb pic.twitter.com/FjxW50RnEn

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) October 29, 2023

In Sampaloc, Manila, passengers continually arrived at bus terminals for their trips to the north, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Super Radyo dzBB.

A dispatcher said there were also chance passengers hoping to get on board buses despite the bus trips being fully booked since October 21.

Meanwhile, at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), there were fewer passengers on Sunday as compared to previous days, according to a report by Mao dela Cruz on Super Radyo dzBB.

The normal volume of passengers at PITX is 15,000. This peaked at 143,000 on Friday. As of Saturday night, a total of 134,935 passengers were recorded to have used PITX that day.

PITX management is expecting the number of passengers to still go up as more Filipinos head out of town for the BSKE and Undas break.

Bus drivers at PITX were made to undergo random drug testing earlier to ensure passenger safety. Test results were all negative.

Expressway

Meanwhile, at the Balintawak Toll Plaza, motorists intending to use the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) who have no RFID cards yet formed a long line for installation, according to a report by Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.

LOOK: Mahaba ang pila ng mga nagpapakabit ng RFID sa NLEX Balintawak Toll Plaza @dzbb pic.twitter.com/9nx6vP61Wm

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) October 29, 2023

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier declared October 30, 2023 as a special non-working day throughout the country for the BSKE.

Meanwhile, November 1 and 2 are special non-working days to allow the public to observe All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. -KG, GMA Integrated News