Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Bus firms suspend operations Friday By Joy Romares-Sevilla
PASSENGER traffic at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) is expected to increase Wednesday and Thursday after north- and south- bound buses confirmed suspension of operations on Friday.
"We still have scheduled trips on Thursday, our last trip is 7 p.m. We will resume operations on Saturday at 1:30 a.m.," Manny Otic, custodian of the Yellow Bus Lines Inc., said in an interview.
On the other hand, Boy Morcisa, dispatcher of the Davao Metro Shuttle, said the company would also suspend trips on Friday.
"Our last trip for Tagum will be Thursday at 10 p.m., but trips for Compostela will only be at 4 p.m. Most of our drivers reside in Tagum City, they requested the management if they can have last trips for Comval at 4 p.m. so they can go home after their last trip for Tagum," Morcisa explained.
Both Otic and Morcisa claimed the number of passengers is also expected to increase on Wednesday and Thursday.
"There are only few passengers today (Tuesday), but we expect increase in the number of passengers by tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon and Thursday," Morcisa said.
Meanwhile, the terminal in-charge of the Holiday Bus and the Bachelor Bus both told Sun.Star there is still no directive or order from their respective managements to suspend trips on Friday.
"It will depend on whether there are drivers who are willing to report, but usually, just like in the past years, there are drivers who report on Good Friday. Our last trip is midnight, our first trip is 3:45 a.m.," Boy Naquila, terminal in-charge of the Holiday Bus, said.
On the other hand, the terminal in-charge of the Bachelor Bus said their management has yet to release an order for suspension of operations on Friday.
"But there is a possibility that there will be no trips on Friday," the in-charge, who refused to be identified, said.
