Holiday travelers surge at PITX

MANILA, Philippines — Passengers have been flocking to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) as the holiday season peaks.

Up to 203,511 passengers were recorded on Friday. Travelers were at 89,525 on Saturday.

Bicol trips were delayed due to a damaged section of the Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur.

Sixty-two of 113 bus trips were delayed on Thursday, with 10 more affected on Friday, PITX spokesman Jason Salvador said.

The delays affected over 2,000 passengers.

Additional buses are prepared for deployment if necessary, Salvador said.

Some passengers have opted for ordinary buses as tickets for air-conditioned buses to Bicol sold out fast.

Several bus trips to Bicol, Daet, Naga and Legazpi City were fully booked.

Regular and extra trips were nearly at capacity, according to bus companies DLTB, Bicol Isarog and Peñafrancia.

The PITX is expecting to accommodate about three million passengers between Dec. 21 and Jan. 6.

No crime incidents have been recorded by the management.

About 166 prohibited items have been confiscated at security checkpoints at PITX from Dec. 16 to 20.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin has conducted inspections of transportation hubs and other places of convergence.