Top officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) personally inspected the readiness of the Para帽aque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on October 27, 2023, as they ensured the facility鈥檚 readiness during the recent exodus of travelers in the longest holiday break of the year.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza, LTFRB Officer In Charge-Chairperson Mercy Paras-Leynes as well as I-ACT Chief Charlie Del Rosario conducted an ocular visit to the PITX, and commended its preparedness in catering to the high-volume of passengers with its state-of-the-art facilities and efficient transport services.
The officials assessed the terminal鈥檚 readiness鈥攊ncluding its personnel and services, plus the public-utility vehicles (PUV) for roadworthiness鈥攆or commuters who maximized the opportunity to travel to their hometowns during the Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
For its part, the LTO conducted another round of random drug testing among 100 PUV drivers and conductors, as the government agency ensured their sound physical and mental states.
Regarding preparations for 鈥淯ndas 2023,鈥� PITX Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Head Jason Salvador commented that the partnership with transport agencies ensured the utmost safety of passengers.
鈥淲e are committed to providing a seamless, comfortable travel experience for the public, especially during busy periods like this,鈥� Salvador said. 鈥淧reparations were extensive in order to accommodate the influx of travelers, as we ensured that their journeys were hassle-free.鈥�
The PITX was estimated to have accommodated some 1.6 million commuters during the year鈥檚 busiest season for remembrance and suffrage within the week-long hiatus, which started from October 26 and lasted until November 7.
To further guarantee the safety of passengers, the PITX official revealed that PITX has been actively partnering with the Philippine National Police for augmented law-enforcement visibility, especially as the terminal is gearing up for the bustling Christmas season.
