Millions of Filipino travelers poured back into Metro Manila on Monday, clogging major expressways and packing bus terminals as the annual Holy Week exodus drew to a close.
Transport officials reported a significant surge in passenger volume across the capital’s main gateways. In the Sampaloc district, a steady stream of provincial buses arrived from Central and Northern Luzon. Terminals for Florida Bus and other major lines saw heavy crowds from provinces including Isabela, Cagayan, Ilocos, and Apayao.
Many passengers noted they were only able to secure return trips today after buses were fully booked throughout the weekend.
At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Kolyn Calbasa confirmed that foot traffic surpassed 35,000 travelers by Monday morning alone.
Total traffic for the Lenten season reached 2.6 million by Easter Sunday, eclipsing last year’s figures as more commuters opted for public transport to avoid high fuel costs.
Meanwhile, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) management reported a slow-moving build-up of private and public vehicles at the Balintawak toll plaza.
Traffic congestion was particularly heavy along Bonifacio Avenue and the approach to EDSA in Caloocan. While the peak of the return was expected yesterday, a large volume of travelers from Bulacan and Pampanga delayed their commute until Monday morning.
NLEX traffic teams remained deployed to manage the bottleneck, which officials expected to ease after 10 a.m.
Conditions on EDSA, the city’s main artery, showed signs of returning to a typical work-week grind, while the MRT-3 resumed operations on Monday to alleviate pressure on the EDSA Bus Carousel.
In the Ortigas business district, MMDA Officer Michael Baluyot reported "light to moderate" traffic, though some delays persisted near the Santolan flyover and Shaw underpass. The slow flow at Shaw was attributed to the final stages of an MMDA flood control project initiated during the long weekend.
Security remained tight across all major hubs, with the Manila Police District and local officials maintaining a heavy presence at terminals.
Authorities at PITX reported the arrest of a suspect following a cellphone theft on a bus, but noted that no major violent incidents occurred during the massive travel period.
