More than two million people are expected to flock to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) during this year’s Holy Week to go home to their respective provinces or travel to Metro Manila.
PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador said that they prepared early for the upcoming holiday exodus as passengers may start arriving as early as April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).
“Sa ating pagtaya, hindi bababa ng 2 million, around 2.3 million passengers, magmula April 9 hanggang sa pagbabalik natin after the Holy Week,” Salvador said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(Based on our forecast, the passengers will not be less than 2 million. Around 2.3 million passengers may arrive starting April 9 until they return after the Holy Week.)
“Ang pinaka-peak niyan is…Holy Wednesday at Holy Thursday. Kasi karamihan sa mga Kapuso natin, ‘yung mga hindi makapag-leave, ‘yung mga daily wage earners. Siyempre papasok pa ‘yan hanggang the very last day at magsasabay-sabay sa Wednesday at Thursday,” he added.
(The peak will be on Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday. This is because many people still can’t file their leaves and are daily wage earners, so they will be working until the very last day and flock to the terminal altogether by Wednesday and Thursday.)
As part of PITX’s preparations, Salvador said that they have met with operators to ensure that there will be enough buses to cater to millions of passengers this Holy Week.
He said they have also coordinated with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding the issuance of special permits as needed, and to other agencies like the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT).
The PITX official also underscored the importance of road safety, especially that many people are expected to travel next week.
“Kailangan natin isipin ‘yung kanilang safety. ‘Pag safety ang pinag-uusapan, dapat ‘yung mga pampublikong sasakyan ay road-worthy, meaning ito ay nasa tamang kondisyon —’yung gulong, ‘yung busina, lahat ng aspeto ng bus dapat chine-check natin,” he explained.
(We need to think about the safety of the passengers. Public utility vehicles must be road-worthy, meaning they must be in proper condition when they ply their routes—the tires, the horn, and all other parts of the bus must be checked first.)
Salvador said that they also monitor the drivers themselves, whether they are in the right condition, by conducting random drug tests and breathalyzer tests.
Under Proclamation No. 727 issued by Malacañang, April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan), April 17 (Maundy Thursday) and April 18 (Good Friday) are regular holidays. Meanwhile, April 19 (Black Saturday) has been declared a special non-working day. —KG, GMA Integrated News
