Bus and other Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) terminals in Metro Manila were teeming with passengers early Wednesday morning, with the peak felt after lunch when government workers were dismissed from work, as the exodus to the provinces for the Holy Week started.
Passengers bound for Central Luzon provinces line up at a bus terminal along EDSA Cubao, Quezon City for the Lenten break on April 5, 2023. (MARK BALMORES/MANILA BULLETIN)
Provincial bus terminals in Pasay City, Quezon City, Paranaque City, and Caloocan City reported huge volumes of passengers, some with reserved tickets booked in advance while some chance passengers were seen lined up at the ticket counters.
Heavy volumes of bus passengers were observed in terminals of bus companies such as Dangwa, Maria De Leon, Alps, Honoris, Dalin, North East Luzon, Viron, Dominion, Fariñas, and Partas in Sampaloc, Manila.
The same situation was observed in Victory Liner, Bataan Transit, ES Transport, Santrans, and Philippine Rabbit terminals in Avenida, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
In Pasay City, heavy vehicle and passenger traffic were observed in the terminals of Victory Liner, Bicol Isarog, Philtranco, Five Star, Genesis, Partas, Saulog, DLTB, and Ceres.
Another transportation hub in Pasay City is the Buendia Bus Terminal along Taft Avenue. South bound liners such as JAM Transit, JAC, DLTB, and Batangas Bus reported increased passenger volume.
Bus terminals that line Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Cubao, Quezon City such as Genesis, DLTB, Victory Liner, Partas, JAM, Five Star, Baliwag, Dominion, Superlines, Raymond, Bicol Isarog, RSL, and Peñafrancia, among others, were also busy with
passengers and cargo for the long trip to the provinces.
Also in Quezon City, the Araneta Bus Terminal, saw services by Philtranco, DLTB, and Ceres peak on Wednesday.
At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), DLTB, Saulog, and other liners saw an increase in the number of passengers, as well as other PUVs that serve nearby provinces.
Passengers at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Holy Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (ARNOLD QUIZOL/MANILA BULLETIN)
Public assistance stations
The Philippine National Police, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the local government units in Metro Manila have deployed their personnel to ensure the safety of travelers and those who will observe Holy Week in the National Capital Region.
The Muntinlupa City government, in particular, has established public assistance stations in strategic areas to help travelers
this Holy Week.
"We are ready for Oplan Semana Santa 2023. But we also remind everyone to do their part for safe travel and observance of the Holy Week. Prepare adequately, drive safely, and reflect on the significance of the season as well," said Mayor Ruffy Biazon.
As Metro Manila’s gateway to the Calabarzon area, Muntinlupa is bracing for a high number of travelers on its main and secondary thoroughfares especially on Holy Wednesday, when most offices are expected to declare at least half the day off to allow employees to return home to their provinces.
Biazon said the Muntinlupa police and fire station are on “heightened alert” this Holy Week. The Philippine National Police-Muntinlupa
increased police visibility in the city. They will patrol streets along with the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) from April 2 to 8 to ensure the safety of the public.
There will also be four aid stations set up to assist travelers and motorists. These are located at the Ayala Malls South Park; PNP-Muntinlupa headquarters in Laguerta, Tunasan; Caltex Station, Tunasan; and Pacwood, Tunasan.
Services offered in these stations include free water and blood pressure monitoring. Each station will provide first aid, a portable toilet, traffic assistance and PNP Help Desk.
Supporting this year's Oplan Semana Santa are the Mayor's Office, City Administrator's Office, Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau, Community Affairs and Development Office, Department of Disaster Resilience and Management, POSO, City Security Office, PNP, Environmental Sanitation Center, and Engineering Department.
No long lines
As of 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, there were no long lines of passengers yet in bus terminals in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava) on Wednesday afternoon, April 5, Northern Police District (NPD) Director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Penones said.
There were no stranded passengers and no untoward incidents reported.
Penones said that they were expecting 3,000 bus passengers in Camanava going to the provinces for the Holy Week.
He also said he went to one of the bus terminals in Caloocan where passengers bound for the provinces are expected to come in the afternoon on Wednesday or on Maundy Thursday, April 6.
Around 1,700 police personnel, including mobile/police patrol vehicles, were deployed in different public areas in Camanava to maintain peace and order during the Holy Week.
Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan had earlier ordered the Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS) to ensure a “zero crime” rate during the observance of Holy Week 2023.
He told the CCPS to strengthen their security measures and police visibility in public places, churches, transport terminals, and main roads.
The mayor also instructed barangay officials to conduct roving operations. He also encouraged the residents to coordinate with them in case of emergency.
As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the Quezon City government said that there were also no long queues of passengers seen in several bus terminals in the city.
It said that they are also expecting passengers to come to the terminals in the afternoon on Wednesday.
The local government said that it coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). and other concerned agencies to ensure the safety of passengers and maintain peace in several terminals in the city.
On Tuesday, April 4, the QC Traffic and Transport and Traffic Management Department, PNP Highway Patrol Group, PDEA, LTFRB and MMDA inspected the bus terminals and conducted random drug testing on bus drivers before they were allowed to travel.
Help desks were also placed in the terminals to provide assistance to passengers.