By Karen Villanda
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) has observed a decrease in the number of passengers this Holy Week, as the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in place in the NCR Plus (National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) bubble.
PITX management said the number of passengers is getting fewer everyday since the announcement of stricter protocols in areas covered by the NCR Plus bubble, beginning last week up to the implementation of ECQ this week.
“Bago kasi inanunsyo ito [Before this was announced] during the time of pandemic, nakaka-average na tayo ng [we were averaging] 60,000 to 65,000 passengers a day. Noong [Upon the creation of the] nag-NCR Bubble, bumaba ito [this declined], naging [it became] 30,000 to 35,000. At ngayong [And now that it’s] nag-ECQ, ngayong [this] Holy Week, kahapon umabot tayo ng [yesterday it hit] 16,000, at noong [and on] Monday, 22,000,” PITX Corporate Affairs Head Jason Salvador said.
He said public utility buses in PITX are still on a regular schedule. However, some drivers have advised that they might not go out on a trip on Friday.
But in order to ensure continuous service to authorized persons outside residence (APOR) commuters, PITX has asked its partner-operators to prepare back-up units.
Meanwhile, regular trips at PITX will resume on Holy Saturday, to prepare for the APOR who will be returning to work after Holy Week.
Public transportation is allowed in areas under ECQ at reduced capacity, and passengers are only limited to APOR.
PITX is an intermodal terminal of the Department of Transportation, “serving as the transfer point for provincial and in-city transportation, covering busy thoroughfares in the EDSA, Baclaran, and Taft areas,” per information on its website.
