PASSENGERS trooped to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) last Monday, May 13, hoping to catch buses to their respective hometowns so they could vote in the midterm elections.
However, when they got there, they discovered that only a few buses were running since some drivers opted to take the day off so they, too, could cast their votes.
To avoid a similar problem in the future, CSBT operations officer Joy Tumulak said he will ask the Capitol to help him request the Commission on Elections to include drivers and conductors in the absentee voting, which will allow them to vote in advance.
Tumulak said passengers started flocking to the CSBT last Friday, May 10, yet. By Saturday, May 11, their numbers had swelled, forcing some to spend the night in the facility and catch a ride early Sunday morning, May 12.
Those who had no choice but to travel last Monday ended up waiting several hours before they could catch a ride since only 45 of 300 buses, or 15 percent, were running.
Tumulak said they didn’t have this problem during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last year.
He said they expect bus operations to return to normal on Tuesday, May 14. (From AZDL, HBL of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)