Carcar, Oslob, Dumanjug providing: Extra buses for Holy Week

CEBU, Philippines — There is good news for residents in Carcar City and the towns of Oslob and Dumanjug who are currently based in Cebu City and have plans to return to their hometowns this Holy Week.

These three local government units were the first to offer their own buses to serve as additional units to the buses currently being used by the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) to ferry people to their respective hometowns in case there are no more buses left in the terminal.

CSBT operations manager Jonathan Tumulak announced recently that the Olsob, Dumanjug, and Carcar City committed to have their own buses used for their residents, especially during the peak day when outgoing passengers swarm the terminal.

“Pasiuna nga mga lungsod nga misaad pagpagamit sa ilang mga bus kon magnihit na ang mga bus sulod sa terminal atol sa tingsakay sa adlawng Miyerkoles Santo,” he wrote in his Facebook account, which also showed the logos of Carcar City and the towns of Oslob and Dumanjug.

However, he emphasized that the priority will be given to passengers who are elderly, sick, pregnant or lactating mothers, persons with disabilities, or those recently discharged from the hospital.

She said the increase of outgoing passengers usually happens on Holy Wednesday (this coming April 17) which is the last working day of the week.

The succeeding days --April 18 (Maundy Thursday) and April 19 (Good Friday)-- are holidays and many workers or employees return to their hometown for the long weekend and to spend time with their families.

It can be recalled that last year also during Holy Week people formed long queues, even spilling outside the terminal to wait several hours for the buses to arrive.

Tumulak said the terminal currently has 300 buses, each making at least three round trips a day. Each bus also has an average seating capacity of 60 persons

Basing on the data last year, he said for the entire duration of Holy Week, the management is expecting more than 450,000 outgoing and incoming passengers.

With that anticipation, the CSBT management included in their plans and preparations this year requests to local government units to lend their buses to augment their own, especially when there is a shortage.

He assured that these buses will not be used for politicking or campaigning activities, such as the placing of posters on the vehicles or having bus personnel wear shirts with the names of candidates.

Aside from that, the terminal management has also been drumming up their preparations for the security and safety of the passengers by coordinating closely with the police. — BRP (FREEMAN)