MANILA — For those planning to commute by bus to their provinces for the long weekend, Thursday morning is a good time to head out, as more slots are available for passengers.

Norman Mercilla, a bus dispatcher at a terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, said they have around 90 buses ready for deployment to various areas in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

So far, only the airconditioned buses going to Camarines Norte are fully booked, while there are still plenty of seats available for their ordinary buses.

He also noted that the recent storm has affected their passenger count, with a decline in numbers compared to last year's Undas.

"Ang fully booked lang po natin ngayon ay airconditioned buses pero ang ordinary buses marami pa pong bakante. Biyaheng Camarines Norte lang [ang fully booked] Ang balikan na buses namin ay 90 buses na mag-ooperate ngayong Undas," said Mercilla.

"Mamaya pang tanghali [ang dagsa] ng mga pasahero gawa nang half-day pa ang trabaho ngayon. Mamayang alas-dose pa inaasahang dadagsa ang mga pasahero."

While some passengers are heading home to visit their departed loved ones, passenger June Cahukom is using the long weekend to visit his family in Lemery, Batangas, and check on his house, which was nearly damaged during a landslide caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine last week.

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"Uuwi nga ako doon kasi 'yung bahay namin, 'yung lupa, gumuho. Di naman naano 'yung bahay namin pero aalisin namin 'yung lupa. Mga 2 days lang ako doon," he said.

Meanwhile, Meriam Gardose, along with four of her relatives, booked an early trip to Iloilo and arrived at the terminal around 1 a.m. They brought a flat-screen TV and other appliances for their relatives in the province.

"Sa Tapaz, Capiz ako 9 days yung mga estudyante 5 days lang po. Minsan lang na may nag-aano sa amin ng libreng pamasahe kaya nakatawid kami. 1:30 am kami kasi marami kaming dala eh kaya kailangan na early kami makapunta," she said.

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As of 7 a.m., walk-in passengers should have no problem booking tickets to Sta. Cruz, Lemery, Nasugbu, and other areas in Batangas, as there are still plenty of slots available at the DLTB and ALPS bus terminals in Cubao.

Airconditioned bus trips going to Bicol, however, are already fully booked.

Authorities remind passengers not to bring any flammable materials, weapons, firearms, and other prohibited items inside the terminal.

They are expecting the influx of passengers starting Thursday afternoon until Friday morning.