Thousands of passengers heading back to Metro Manila after holiday break

Passengers queue to ride the bus at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City on March 27, 2024. An influx of passengers is anticipated as many head to the provinces for the Holy Week weekend. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

The holiday season has officially ended, and many Filipinos are making their way back to Metro Manila after celebrating Christmas and the New Year in their home provinces. At the same time, some vacationers who spent the holidays in Metro Manila are returning to their provinces, creating a two-way surge in passenger traffic at major transport hubs.   Sheryl Maglalang, who celebrated New Year in Gubat, Sorsogon with her family, had to endure an 18-hour bus ride back to Manila. Despite the long travel, she was relieved to have a day to rest before going back to work.  <div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/27/number-of-passengers-at-pitx-expected-to-surpass-2023-record-1703">Number of passengers at PITX expected to surpass 2023 record</a></div>“Maraming traffic, eh. Sa Albay pa lang. Parang every province, may traffic siya,” Sheryl said.“Nag-leave ako no’ng 27 hanggang no’ng Friday. Para may pahinga pa, kasi kung bukas pa baka traffic tapos diretso pasok, walang pahinga.” Cristy Manaloto, on the other hand, hurried back to Metro Manila from Tarlac to ensure her five-year-old son could attend school.   “Kasi meron na po silang pasok kaya kailangan na pong bumalik. No’ng Thursday na po ang start ng klase nila. Meron po silang pasok ngayon kaya absent po siya ng dalawang araw. Pero okay lang po. Nagpaalam sa teacher,” said Manaloto.   Meanwhile, Serafin Equipilag is traveling back to Bohol after spending the holidays with his children and grandchildren in Parañaque.   “Laro-laro ng apo, tapos pasyal-pasyal ng konti. Expected na ho ‘yon kasi uwian na talaga ngayon. Sobrang daming tao. Makasakay, makauwi na para trabaho na naman ulit,” he said. The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) reported a foot traffic of over 160,000 passengers on January 3, 2024, with hourly arrivals from various provinces ranging from 20,000 to 30,000.   “Ine-expect pa rin natin na tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yong pag-arrive ng mga tao galing sa kanilang provinces dito sa ating terminal dahil ine-expect natin until Monday tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yong mga dagsa ng tao galing provinces dahil ‘yong iba nag-extend ng kanilang holiday, sinulit na nila until this weekend so that they can come back to work this January 6.” said Kolyn Calbasa, Senior Corporate Affairs Officer of PITX. A similar scene was observed at the Bicol Central Station in Naga City, Camarines Sur, where nearly 18,200 passengers traveled to Metro Manila between January 1 and January 3, 2025.   According to Nonoy Reforsado, Operations Manager of Bicol Central Station, the station dispatched 364 buses during the three-day period. However, delays caused by traffic outside the terminal led to some complaints from passengers.   <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/3/pitx-prepares-for-return-of-passengers-from-provinces-1858">PITX prepares for return of passengers from provinces</a></div>“May ilang reklamo lang, siyempre ‘yong mga delay sa pagdating ng mga bus kasi dahil sa traffic sa labas ng terminal. ‘Yon ang nare-receive nating reklamo from passengers kasi hindi nasusunod ‘yong schedule ng kanilang trips pero, so far, wala pa naman tayong nare-record na naka-cancel na trips dito sa Bicol Central Station,” Reforsado said.   With the post-holiday rush expected to continue until the coming days, both PITX and Bicol Central Station have assured passengers of sufficient bus availability to accommodate the heavy demand.

The holiday season has officially ended, and many Filipinos are making their way back to Metro Manila after celebrating Christmas and the New Year in their home provinces.

The holiday season has officially ended, and many Filipinos are making their way back to Metro Manila after celebrating Christmas and the New Year in their home provinces.

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Thousands of passengers heading back to Metro Manila after holiday break

Thousands of passengers heading back to Metro Manila after holiday break

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 04, 2025 04:50 PM PHT

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