Central terminal sees passenger surge

The P5.6-billion Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, the country’s first landport, can accommodate 200,000 passengers. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Some 1.7 million passengers are expected to pass through the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) during the Holy Week, PITX Corporate Affairs head Jason Salvador said on Sunday.

Salvador said passengers are expected to start flocking to the terminal starting March 22. This figure is higher than the PITX’s expected passengers for the Holy Week in 2023, which was at around 1.2 million.

He explained that officials from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will be on standby at the terminal to issue public utility vehicle (PUV) permits to operate on a different route when necessary.

He added that among the preparations they are making to ensure commuters’ safety is conducting roadworthiness assessments of PUVs and the conditions of their drivers.

He added that among the preparations they are making to ensure commuters’ safety is conducting roadworthiness assessments of PUVs and the conditions of their drivers.

READ: PITX gearing up for Holy Week travel rush; 1.7 M passengers expected

“We are also conducting random drug tests and breathalyzer tests … apart from this, we are also making sure that the drivers have replacements because if they get tired, the safety of our passengers may be compromised,” he explained in Filipino. —ZEUS LEGASPI