Holy week exodus starts

Crowded bus terminals and lack of tickets highlighted the start of the yearly Holy Week exodus from Metro Manila to the provinces Saturday. QTV-11 television reported Saturday noon that this was the case at the Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao in Quezon City, where most passengers are headed for Iloilo or Boracay. Dispatchers noted a decrease in passengers heading for Bicol, which was hard hit by typhoons late last year. It quoted some passengers as saying they lined up for tickets before dawn but had a hard time getting tickets, especially if they had children in tow. On the other hand, dispatchers said they are mulling "extra trips" as they were fully booked. Security remained tight in bus terminals as personnel inspected baggage. Bomb-sniffing dogs also made their usual "rounds." Personnel at the bus terminal said they expect the exodus to peak Holy Wednesday, when office workers knock off work and head for the provinces. -GMANews.TV