Fewer passengers trooping to Cubao bus terminals this year

Passengers waiting to board provincial buses at a Quezon City terminal for Undas. PHOTO by Gab Lalu / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Fewer passengers are making trips using the bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City compared to the previous years’ All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the terminal management said on Wednesday.

However, Ramon Legazpi, property manager of the Araneta Center bus terminals, assured that they are prepared in case passenger influx peaks by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

“As of now passenger movement is still light, so we would expect this afternoon and definitely by tomorrow, the last day, we expect more commuters especially it is pay day,” Legazpi told reporters after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) inspected the terminals.

“On the average, we’re a bit lesser this year,” he added.

According to Legazpi, their records showed that passenger turnout on Tuesday was also lower compared to other years, with only 4,000 travelers, whereas on days without specific occasions, commuters peak at around 1,500 to 1,700.

“Yesterday it was quite low, only 4,000 used the terminals, for now maybe (we are expecting) close to 5,000.  Let’s see, tomorrow may be around 5,000 to 6,000 (passengers),” he noted.

Some of the factors that may have contributed to this low turnout include the placement of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day — which fell on a Friday and Saturday, respectively, and the increasing number of terminals in the area.

“This may also be due to All Souls’ Day being a short occasion, while some may be intending to make vacations during the Christmas season,” he added.  “The bus companies here also have their terminals along EDSA, so some of their customers are using those areas.”

As part of the Catholic tradition, Filipinos travel to their provinces every All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, to honor their dead relatives and take time off their jobs.  Various government agencies have already inspected Cubao and its adjacent terminals to avoid any untoward incidents from happening. /je

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