Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement an online booking system for bus companies to ease congestion at transport terminals and improve passenger experience.
Pimentel made the call as he urged bus companies to consider this proposal, emphasizing the benefits of advance online booking.
"Traveling is more convenient if we have an online booking system. It will be of great help to passengers, especially during the holidays,” Pimentel said in a statement.
The senator noted there are still some bus lines that rely solely on over-the-counter transactions while have already shifted to online ticketing systems.
Thus, he said the DOTr should explore the possibility of requiring online payment for terminal fees.
“This will help to avoid long queues at the terminal counters,” he pointed out.
The Senator reiterated the importance of addressing the needs of commuters, especially during peak travel seasons. He said online booking is one of the ways the government can explore in order to achieve what every Filipino wants: to have a smoother and more convenient trip.
“Online booking gives passengers the assurance that they have a ticket and a guaranteed seat on the bus,” the minority leader stressed.