Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

Bea Cuadra

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775436696345Screen Shot 2026-04-06 at 8.29.36 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A steady stream of passengers was observed at an MRT-3 station in Quezon City early Monday morning, signaling a return to the standard weekday rush as the holiday exodus officially winds down. Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— Filipinos working or living in the metro have returned after spending several days of Holy Week in their provinces.</p><p>The situation in most bus terminals across Quezon City remains normal as of Monday morning.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/4/5/thousands-return-to-metro-manila-after-holy-week-break-2026">READ: Thousands return to Metro Manila after Holy Week break</a></div><p>Elena Rearte noted a significantly faster journey from Bicol to Manila this Holy Week, which took 11 hours compared to previous trips that lasted up to 16 hours.</p><p>She cited the surge in fuel prices as a possible contributing factor.</p><p>“Yung biyahe namin ngayon ang bilis kumpara noong dati. Ngayon mga 11 hours lang kami. Mabilis pa rin ‘yun. Maluwag ‘yung kalsada. Wala masyadong traffic. Wala masyadong sasakyan dahil nga siguro sa oil/gasoline increase,” she said.</p><p>Rearte shared that she enjoyed her vacation by spending time with her loved ones and is now prepared to resume work.</p><p>“May work and may pasok pa ‘yung aking mga apo. Masaya kasi andun lahat ng family, andun ang lahat ng friends. Nagkita-kita, masaya,” she added.</p><p>Another passenger, Jet De Castro, reported a similarly smooth and faster trip than Rearte.</p><p>“Yung biyahe namin pauwi, mas smooth siya kasi wala gaanong traffic, unlike before na inaabot ng 15-16 hours from Bicol to Manila; ngayon, 11 hours na lang,” he said.</p><p>He also noted that he was fortunate to have booked a bus ticket prior to the fare increase.</p><p>“Nakapag book kami earlier before bago pa magtaas ‘yung ticket nung bus, from P1,000 to P1,300 na yata. Nakuha pa namin P1,000,” he said.</p><p>A bus dispatcher stated that more buses from the provinces are expected to arrive later today.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PASSENGER VOLUME THINS AT CUBAO TERMINALS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the usual rush of travelers heading to the provinces began to taper off on Monday morning at a bus terminal in Cubao. </p><p>While outbound crowds have thinned, terminal management noted that the influx of passengers arriving from various provinces has been steady since Saturday. </p><p>Despite the heavy volume recorded over the weekend, dispatchers expect a final surge of arrivals throughout the day.</p><p>Fernando Gamayan, who traveled from Bicol with his child, arrived in Quezon City in the early hours of Monday morning. By dawn, he was already waiting for a bus to take him home to Zambales.</p><p>Terminal management stated they have added additional trips from the provinces to accommodate those returning to the metro.</p><p>Meanwhile, as of 6:00 a.m., traffic was already building up along the southbound lane of EDSA, particularly approaching the Cubao area, as provincial buses and private vehicles returned to the city. </p><p>A steady stream of passengers was also observed at an MRT-3 station in Quezon City early Monday morning, signaling a return to the standard weekday rush as the holiday exodus officially winds down.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PITX POST-HOLY WEEK EXODUS</strong></div><p>The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) also reported a surge of passengers returning to Metro Manila after the Holy Week break on Monday.</p><p>As of 8 a.m., the terminal recorded 48,188 passengers, with an estimated 180,000 to 190,000 expected throughout the day.</p><p>Since March 22, PITX has accommodated a total of 2,657,810 passengers, excluding Monday’s figures. This is higher than the 2,584,307 recorded during the same period last year.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/4/5/heavy-traffic-expected-as-holy-week-travelers-return-to-metro-manila-on-easter-sunday-2123">READ: Heavy traffic expected as Holy Week travelers return to Metro Manila on Easter Sunday</a></div><p>Among the travelers was Josephine Cervantes, a catechist from Albay, who said she decided to return to Metro Manila after Holy Week to attend her youngest child’s recognition ceremony in the Navy.</p><p>“It’s very meaningful kasi kahit sa kahirapan ng pagbyahe—minsan yung husband ko wala sa tabi ko—nasikap ko pa rin na dumalo sa Church kahit na gabi,” she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Lance Cervantes, a third-year dentistry student, traveled alone from Catanduanes to return to his dorm in Sampaloc, Manila.</p><p>“Okay lang naman overall. Nakaka-enjoy kasi kasama ko naman yung mga family ko and friends to bond with,” he said.</p><p>Some passengers said they chose to return on Monday to avoid the heavier crowds over the weekend.</p><p>“Tinapos lang yung Holy Week kasi masyadong maraming tao pag nauwi,&quot; said Leticia Malinao.</p><p>Another passenger, Melanie, said she had just finished work-related duties during the observance of Holy Week.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon lang po talaga natapos-tapos yung trabaho katulad sa&#x27;kin sa simbahan tinapos ko po talaga yung Holy Week,&quot; she said.</p><p>PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador said more passengers are expected on the first working day of the week as travelers continue to return both to and from Metro Manila.</p><p>&quot;Inaasahan natin yan maghapon ngayon, some on bukas and some on wednesday. Although karamihan sa ating mga kababayan nakaluwas naman na nung Linggo,&quot; Salvador said.</p><p>Authorities reminded returning passengers to observe health and safety protocols as terminals handle the post-Holy Week rush. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘GENERALLY PEACEFUL’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Police said the Holy Week commemoration in Metro Manila was “generally peaceful”. </p><p>The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it recorded 95 crime incidents, down from 114 in the same period last year. </p><p>The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), for its part, said its Oplan Biyaheng Ayos went smoothly. It monitored about 3.4 million passengers, which is higher than the 3 million passengers in 2025. </p><p>PCG Spokesperson Captain Noemi Cayabyab said some drowning incidents still occurred, although fewer than last year’s. </p><p>“Ang ginawa rin po ng Philippine Coast Guard para mapaigting po itong kaligtasan ng atin pong mga biyahero, meron po kaming inisiyatibo itong e-sumbong or electronic sumbong na kung saan itong QR code po ay pinakalat po natin sa lahat ng mga barko, pantalan at terminal na puwede pong magreport ang ating mga biyahero,” Cayabyab said in the same program. </p><p>The PCG also doubled on its pre-departure inspection. </p><div><strong>-- W</strong><strong>ith reports from Izzy Lee and Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yhnjIBfq1uU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>A steady stream of passengers was also observed at an MRT-3 station in Quezon City early Monday morning, signaling a return to the standard weekday rush as the holiday exodus officially winds down.</p>

A steady stream of passengers was also observed at an MRT-3 station in Quezon City early Monday morning, signaling a return to the standard weekday rush as the holiday exodus officially winds down.

Metro workers, residents back from Holy Week break in provinces

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Metro workers, residents back from Holy Week break in provinces

Christopher Sitson,

Bea Cuadra,

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 06, 2026 08:55 AM PHT

|

Updated April 06, 2026 04:20 PM PHT

Read More:

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