Voters rush to home provinces for 2019 elections

MANILA, Philippines – On the eve of Election Day, commuters experienced heavy traffic and long lines in ports and bus stations as they headed to their home provinces to vote in their respective polling precincts. 

Over 61 million Filipinos will vote for new senators and local officials on Monday, May 13. For some of these registered voters, they will have to go back to their home provinces to vote in their assigned polling precincts. (READ: Your step-by-step guide to voting in May 13 elections)

As early as May 10, long lines filled Pier 1 in Cebu City as people went home for the elections.

WATCH: Last Friday, May 10, travelers going home to Mindanao flocked the port of Cebu in time before election day. Video by Jane Biscocho. @MovePH pic.twitter.com/HykKRAobDY

— Stephen Esic, #PHVote (@esicstephen) May 12, 2019

 

Meanwhile, people trying to take a trip to Tuguegarao, Olongapo, and Baguio crowded a Victory Liner terminal in Sampaloc, Manila, on the eve of Election Day. 

Only a few slots for the trips were available as of 6:40 pm Sunday, according to their ticketing office. 

This is the situation at a bus station in Sampaloc, Manila on the eve of the midterm elections. Commuters here will take trips to Tuguegarao, Olongapo, and Baguio.

According to their ticketing office, few trips and slots are still available as of 6:40 pm. #PHVote @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/I5fdY6uTna

— Kurt Adrian (@KurtAdrianDP) May 12, 2019

 

In Naga City, the Bicol Central Station and Naga City Van Terminal-Southbound on Sunday saw commuters caught in long queues.

IN PHOTOS: On the night before the elections, bus and van terminals in Naga City, Camarines Sur are now crowded with passengers who will be going home to vote in their respective municipalities.@MovePH #PhVote pic.twitter.com/ZepJnvqRO6

— abegail kyla (@abegailkbilan) May 12, 2019

 

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Sherwin Baluyot took a video of a full bus at Dau Terminal in Pampanga where passengers had to stand in the middle of the aisle to join the 12 am trip on Sunday.

“Ganito kahirap makauwi sa Pilipinas bukod pa ‘yan sa traffic at napakataas na presyo ng langis,” Baluyot said.

(This is how difficult it is to go home in the Philippines, aside from the traffic and high oil prices.)

I took this video in Dau Terminal yesterday, past 12 midnight. Ganito kahirap makauwi sa Pilipinas bukod pa yan sa traffic at nakapataas na presyo ng langis. Please vote for candidates who will push for an efficient mass transport system. Stop electing thieves. Vote WISELY. pic.twitter.com/iVjNHicwue

— sher (@MSCBaluyot) May 12, 2019

 

According to Baluyot, Dau Terminal is usually the main transport hub for those working in the Clark area to travel to nearby provinces like Bataan, Tarlac, and Zambales.

Although Baluyot lives near his polling precinct, he hopes that others can still head home to their provinces to vote, despite the long travel times.

“I think for those who work and live far away from their polling booths such as those who work in Manila and Clark who [go] home to their provinces to vote during elections, it is very difficult with the kind of public transport means available [to] them,” Baluyot told Rappler. 

He encouraged voters to elect government officials who will address the problems of the transport system in the country.

“Please vote for candidates who will push for an efficient mass transport system. Stop electing thieves. Vote wisely,” Baluyot said.

Polls all over the country, will open on Monday at 6 am and close at 6 pm. The previous voting hours from 6 am to 5 pm has been adjusted to accommodate voters. The Comelec expects some queuing to take place since there is an estimated maximum of about 1,000 voters per vote counting machine. – Rappler.com

Josiah Antonio is a Rappler intern. He is a 4th year student at the University of the Philippines Diliman taking BA Philippine Studies, major in Journalism and Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino.