By Khriscielle Yalao
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) expects an increase in the volume of travelers leading up to New Year’s day, Jason Salvador, the head of the terminal’s communication affairs department, said Monday, Dec. 27.
The PITX is one of the three intermodal terminals in the south of Metro Manila covering the areas of EDSA, Baclaran and Taft, and offering travel to nearby provinces.
The PITX’s regular number of passengers averaged around 65,000-70,000 but surged to 90,000 starting Sunday, Dec. 19.
For the first time, the volume of passengers in PITX peaked at 125,000 on Thursday, Dec. 23, the highest number the terminal has seen during the pandemic.
The PITX recorded 92,000 passengers on Sunday, Dec. 26.
Salvador said that people travel more before Christmas than before the New Year as workers have more days off work and prefer spending the holidays in their hometowns in the provinces.
Buses with the most passengers were en route to and from Cavite, Bicol, and Batangas.
Salvador noted that Cavite is the biggest contributor to the volume of passengers at PITX on a daily basis because they offer commuter rates to people who work within Metro Manila but live outside the metropolis.
Access to vaccinations was the primary contributor to the swell of passengers during the holidays this year compared to December 2020.
“Vaccinations have made people’s confidence to travel higher, and more people are “revenge travelling”, taking the opportunity to travel after not being able to for a long time,” said Salvador in a phone interview.
Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 2, with 433 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Dec. 26.
The PITX currently has 2,000-2,500 buses in operation. However, Salvador said it’s still a challenge to accommodate all passengers because the terminal is still operating only at 70% capacity.
He stressed that the terminal is collaborating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the deployment of extra bus units when needed, and for immediate issuance of special permits.
Despite the terminal’s limitations, Salvador maintained that the PITX is fully manned and operational, especially during peak seasons such as Christmas, the Holy Week, and All Saints’ Day.
Salvador also said that the terminal's management increased its personnel by hiring new employees to serve as COVID-19 safety ambassadors.
“Some passengers forget the health protocols. So the safety ambassadors remind passengers to wear their masks properly, to observe social distancing, and ensure the public capacity inside the buses is being followed,” Salvador added.
He noted that personnel can only regulate buses within the terminal, so they seek the help of the Parañaque sector of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help maintain peace and order both inside and outside of the terminals.