Trip delays, long queues at Araneta bus station on Holy Wednesday

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Several passengers have complained Wednesday of the delays in bus arrivals as well as the long queues at ticketing booths at the Araneta Center bus station.

The family of Belen Lotero, 68, has been at the bus station since Tuesday night, waiting to purchase a bus ticket bound for Sorsogon province in the Bicol region.

She was with her two sisters, a niece, and a granddaughter. They traveled from Valenzuela City, carrying luggage, to the bus station in Cubao.

Lotero said they were told that all trips bound for Bicol are fully booked and there are no more tickets available. They were told, however, to wait for buses to arrive as extra trips may be fielded, and tickets are on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

This compelled them to spend the night at the bus station to wait for bus trips to become available.

“Basta pag dumating daw ng umaga, may ticket. Eh kagabi pa nga kami nandito, wala nang ticket, ngayong umaga wala na,” Lotero told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

(If the buses arrive in the morning, they said there might be tickets available. We were here since last night, and there are no more tickets. There’s none this morning.)

“Hindi kami binigyan ng pagkakataon na magpareserve ng ticket, wala na raw. Ubos na raw,” she added.

(They did not allow us to reserve the tickets. They said there are no tickets available.)

Ultimately, they settled on a trip that would load and unload them at certain stops until they reach their destination. If they arrive at a particular bus station, for example, at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, they would expect to be able to get a ride by 1 p.m. the following day to a forward destination. A 12-hour trip is ahead of them.

Meanwhile, Jinilin Miranda, 29, and her friends were able to secure a bus trip bound for Tuguegarao after waiting for several hours,

She said that before going to the Araneta bus station, they made the rounds of the different bus stations, but all trips to their destination were fully-booked.

“Sobrang delayed, mainitin yung ulo ng mga tao, gutom. Mayroong nagsasabi na kulang yung bus, mayroon din nagsasbai na kulang daw yung driver,” she said in a separate interview.

(The trips are delayed, the people are irritable and hungry. Some say that there are few buses available, but others say the bus companies lack drivers.) /ee

Araneta bus station general manager Ramon Legaspi explained that the delay of bus arrivals could be attributed to the heavy traffic on the road.

“Dahil hindi naman natin hawak ‘yung traffic along the way, naa-antala ‘yung dating ng mga bus kaya mayroong mga delayed and then of course naiinip din yung ating mga pasahero,” Legaspi told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

(Since we do not control the traffic situation along the road, buses are delayed in arriving at their destinations. Understandably, our passengers are complaining.)

He appealed to the passengers to have patience. “So hinihingi natin ang kanilang pang-unawa dahil doon sa mga delayed na arrival ng ating mga buses (We are appealing to their understanding because of the delayed arrival of our buses),” he added.

As Wednesday is the last working day this week, the deluge of passengers is expected throughout the day, he said.

The number of passengers at the bus station could reach up to 4,500. Meanwhile, 3,500 passengers are also expected at the Araneta Center Bus Port where air-conditioned buses are stationed.

“We would expect later this afternoon and until evening dadami ‘yung pasahero, dahil magha-halfday pa ‘yung mga nasa opisina, and today’s the last day of work and tomorrow’s the holiday na,” Legaspi said.

(We expect more passengers this afternoon because most offices have declared half-day work. Today is the last day of work and the holiday begins tomorrow.)

He assured passengers that they will be accommodated in extra trips that will be fielded by bus operators.

“Makakaasa sila na makakabukas pa itong ating mga bus operators dito sa bus station and extra allocation and extra trips doon din po sa bus port,” the Araneta Center bus station said.

(Our bus operators here at the bus station and at the bus port would field extra trips.)

Legaspi reminded those who wish to travel to the provinces during the Holy Week break to arrive early at the bus station or purchase tickets earlier. /ee

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