TAGUM CITY—Vacationers are starting to swell public bus and jeepney terminals on Saturday as the observance of the Holy Week began to peak.
Bus companies plying the route from Tagum to Davao, Mati, and Butuan are doubling its operations starting Palm Sunday to serve the growing crowd of travellers.
Rolanda Montero, 48, a bus inspector, said five additional bus units plying from Tagum-Butuan have been added as passengers have tripled since Friday.
“The bus terminal is already jam-packed of vacationers who are waiting for buses going to Butuan. Some are struggling to get seats with some climbing through the windows of the buses,” said Montero.
Montero said that despite the big group of vacationers, still they are able “to serve the riding public conveniently.”
He advised passengers to be at the terminal an hour before to avoid long queues. “They should be here earlier ahead of their schedule to avoid trip delays, ”he said.
Public utility jeepneys plying the routes from Tagum to Kapalong, Laak and Sto. Tomas towns are also expecting passengers to swell the terminal.
Robin Pobre, 46, a jeepney driver, said that passengers taking jeepneys to ride home will experience slight inconvenience because of limited units of public utility vehicles.
“We only have a limited number of PUJ units so we could only serve a limited number of passengers. But we assure them that our operations will have no delays,” says Pobre.
But for Rico Lopez, 23, a regular passenger, the problem of congested terminals should have been resolved a long time ago.
“It’s an old problem yet until now it remains unresolved. The number of bus units are inadequate,” Lopez said.
Authorities from the Tagum City Overland Transport and Integrated Terminal said “the riding public may have to bear with stricter security rules in the terminal for their own safety.”
Meanwhile, Tagum’s police authorities have beef up their security plans all throughout the duration of the Holy Week and advised the riding public to avoid bringing valuables that may attract thieves. (davaotoday.com)
