100,000 flock to PITX ahead of ASEAN holiday

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With the long weekend approaching, tickets at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) are becoming harder to get as around 100,000 travelers flock to the station, with the number set to further increase.

In a "24 Oras" report from Katrina Son on Friday, there were long lines at the PITX as people went home to their provinces to take advantage of the three-day holiday declared in Metro Manila due to the ASEAN Summit.

The management of PITX said that the terminal has seen 100,000 passengers, but they are expecting more people to come.

According to PITX authorities, many who booked tickets on buses were headed north to Baguio, as well as La Union and Batangas port.

“What's interesting this time is that unlike dun sa other high volume traffic natin like Undas, Pasko and Holy Week… Para makapagpahinga diba, umuuwi talaga sa mga hometown nila this time ang na observe natin ang mga naunang mapuno na mga biyahe natin yung mga pasyalan so meaning yung mga travel ngayon mostly pang gala,” PITX Director of Affairs and Government Relations Jason Salvador said.

(What's interesting this time is that, unlike in other high-volume traffic like Undas, Pasko and Holy Week… It is to rest, to go back to their hometowns. What we observed is that the trips being filled are for sightseeing so meaning the most of travel now is for touring.)

“It's a very long weekend diba so talagang inaasahan natin na talagang maraming tao ngayon lalo na mamayang gabi hanggang bukas,” he added.

(It's a very long weekend, so we expect that there are a lot of people today and even more so tonight and tomorrow.)

Judy Reyteran and her family are already at the PITX to ensure that they have a ride going back to their province of Camarines Norte, as they know that there will be a lot of people traveling.

“Buti nga po may naabutan pa kaming ticket… Last seating na kami, sabi namin buti na lang po naka-abot pa kami then sabi po ng cashier dun sa bus is extra buses na sya,” Reyteran said.

(It is a good thing we were able to get tickets…We have the last seating; we said that it was good we were able to get tickets because the cashier said that these were already extra buses.)

Reyteran said it was important for them to come home, as they have yet to return since last year. Her family had insisted on going home, as it was rare to get an opportunity to have such a long weekend. Her children will finally be able to visit their grandparents and uncles in the province.

Meanwhile, Joseph Cyril Gredoña has been working in Metro Manila for eight years. He was happy to finally be able to go home to his province with his brother to celebrate his father’s 64th birthday, as it was hard for him to come home, with long weekends being rare.

“My father will be having his birthday this coming November 18… I think that's good naman po kasi bibihira kami magsama sa bahay,” Gredoña said.

(My father will be having his birthday this coming November 18… I think that’s good because it is rare for us to be together at home.)

Now, it is becoming harder to get a ticket, with some travelers reporting delayed trips and long lines. Other travelers are willing to wait for last-minute buses. —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News