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Passengers rushed to meet buses without waiting for the vehicles to park. They climbed into the open windows just to get a seat. Once inside, the lucky passenger would help his companion or family members pass through the same window.
That?s how frantic the passenger traffic was at the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City about 2 p.m. yesterday, part of the annual trek to hometowns in the province to spend time with family for All Souls? and All Saints? Day.
Police and terminal security advised passengers not to climb through windows for their own safety since there were enough buses for trips to the north.
But this didn?t stop many from trying.
Otherwise, it was a peaceful day at the terminal, said PO3 Mersas Baay of the Subangdaku Police Station.
The scene was more orderly at the province-run South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. Passengers were given priority tickets to board the buses and could wait in the newly renovated, air-conditioned lounge.
But the volume of passengers was still a seasonal surge.
Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia ordered security to bar people from entering the terminal for more than an hour because of space limitations.
Hundreds waited outside under the heat of the sun.
Garcia said he had to do this and temporarily close the entrance as early as 9 a.m. because the waiting lounge could not accommodate the estimated 3,000 passengers.
The waiting area can hold 700 passengers at a time.
The contingency plan was supposed to be implemented in the afternoon or at night.
Garcia said they had to decongest first the terminal before the waiting passengers outside could get inside.
On hearing the complaints of commuters waiting outside the terminal, he said the people were not yet passengers because they were not yet inside.
He said if the crowd of 3,000 would be allowed to come, this could lead to an accident or commotion.
Garcia said it was better for them to be outside where there was more space and ventilation.
?Kung dili pa sila makasud sa terminal, dili pa na pasahero nato. They are not under my care, so once inside so ato nang kargo. Mas maayo ang bagolbol naa sa gawas, kaysa ang bagolbol naa sa sud,? he said.
(If they?re not yet inside the terminal, they?re not yet passengers. Once inside, they are my responsibility. It?s better that they complain outside, rather than have them complain inside.)
Garcia said some passengers used the LTO license processing area as a waiting area but others chose to stay outdoor.
Eventually, Garcia opened again the entrance past 11 a.m.
At about that time south-bound buses started to arrive.
?When we closed the terminal, it was already full capacity. We tried to decongest the terminal,? he added.
Garcia said Saturday?s usual passenger traffic would reach 20,000.
Yesterday, he estimated the number to reach up to 30,000.
