PITX gears up for 1.2 million Holy Week passengers surge

Ticketing counters, boarding gates and separate arrival and departure areas are some features of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which opened on Nov. 5, 2018. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines —  A whopping 1.2 million passengers traveling to and from their provincial homes are expected to buzz through the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) during the long Holy Week break, an official said on Monday.

PITX corporate and government relations officer Jason Salvador said the increase in commuters’ volume is expected to start by March 29 and until Apr. 9, or the Monday after Easter Sunday.

Salvador said the management of PITX is working with various agencies on the expected surge of passengers for the Holy Week.

“Handa naman tayo dito kasi noong isang linggo pa, abala na tayo sa paghahanda, in fact, nakipagpulong na tayo sa ating mga partnered agencies katulad ng DOTr, LTO, LTFRB, MMDA, IACT, at PNP upang tulungan tayo sa paghahanda natin kasi marami talaga ang pupunta sa PITX ngayong Semana Santa,” Salvador said in a press briefing,

(We are ready for this as a week ago, we were busy with preparations we have met with our partnered agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Inter-Agency Council for Traffic and the Philippine National Police to help us in our preparations as many passengers will troop in PITX this Holy Week.)

Although regular bus trips are already fully booked, particularly trips to Bicol, Salvador said special permits would be issued for additional bus units to augment the passengers’ need for more buses.

“Kailangan nating tiyakin na may karampatang bilang ng pampublikong sasakyan kaya tayo nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa DOTr at sa LTFRB upang sa ganon makapag-issue na ng special permits,” the official said

(We need to ensure that there is an adequate number of public vehicles, so we have contacted the DOTr and the LTFRB so that special permits can be issued.)

“Kung sakaling kulangin ang special permits na na-issue, ang usapan ng LTFRB natin diyan ay magtatalaga sila ng kawani on the ground sa PITX para kung saka-sakaling kailangan pa ng additional buses, rescue units, may additional permits ay ma-issue agad-agad on the ground,” he added.

(Just in case special permits issued would be lacking, our talk with LTFRB is that they will assign staff on the ground at PITX so that if additional buses, rescue units, and additional permits are needed, they will be issued immediately, on the ground.)

The PITX official has reminded the passengers for the Holy Week to “travel lightly” and continue to follow health protocols. However, travel restrictions due to the pandemic continue to loosen up.

Malacañang previously announced to the public that the traditional Holy Week break should be extended as Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) is moved on Monday, Apr. 10, as the non-working day falls on April 9 (Sunday). – Meralyn Melitante, Inquirer.net trainee

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