Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) — A number of people are already leaving Metro Manila for the provinces ahead of the All Souls Days.
Those who opted to travel now said they want to avoid the usual build-up of crowds at bus terminals during Undas.
“Maigi na rin po na maaga kami para hindi kami sumabay sa dagsa ng pasahero. Ang balik namin pagkatapos na po ng Undas,” said Saphire Tumbaga while waiting for a bus ride to Isabela at a terminal in Cubao.
[Translation: It’s better to be early to avoid crowd rush in terminals. We will return after Undas.]
Another passenger, Natalia Cruz, said traveling during Undas can be difficult, hence she prefers taking an earlier trip.
“Lahat po ng mga sasakyan, punong-puno, di mo po alam kung makakasakay ka o hindi. Kaya po ang kagandahan, maigi pong maagap ka sa pagsakay para hindi ka po mahirapan,” Cruz said
[Translation: All of the vehicles will be full and you don’t know if you can get a seat. It’s better to be early to avoid the hassle.]
Meanwhile, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) said it is expecting an influx of passengers bound for their home provinces on Friday.
However, as early as Wednesday, there are passengers already heading to their provinces to avoid the surge of people who will travel to spend time with their families during Undas.
PITX Corporate Affairs Officer Kolyn Calbasa said they anticipate about 120,000 daily passengers as the Undas nears, higher than the terminal’s daily average of 100,000 passengers.
Additional police personnel have been deployed in the terminal and adjacent areas.
Calbasa added that bus drivers underwent drug testing to ensure that they are physically and mentally fit for long drives.
She also advised passengers to book or purchase tickets early.
“As of now, normal pa rin naman siya pero expect namin this coming Friday until the weekend, magsa-spike ‘yung numbers natin,” Calbasa said.
[Translation: As of now, operations are still normal but we expect numbers to spike from Friday until the weekend.]
Calbasa also reminded passengers not to bring flammable items or sharp objects as they are prohibited and will be confiscated at the terminal.
CNN Philippines’ Daniza Fernandez and EJ Gomez contributed to this story.
