The renewed restriction on public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying the Palo-Tacloban route from entering downtown Tacloban City has prompted concerns among Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) students over its implications for commuting costs, travel routes, and accessibility, as well as drivers’ daily income.
Under the directive of the Tacloban City Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement and Control Office (TOMECO), PUVs operating along the Palo-Tacloban route are now mandated to terminate their trips at the New Bus Terminal and return to their original route during designated daytime hours.
They are now prohibited from entering Tacloban City proper from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are allowed to enter only during the city’s designated rush hours, prompting commuters to seek alternative routes to reach their destinations.
The restriction took effect on Monday, October 26, catching several drivers and commuters off guard due to their lack of prior awareness of the new transport arrangements.
EVSUnistas face additional commuting hassles
For EVSUnistas who travel from Palo and nearby communities to EVSU – Main Campus, the restriction may require additional rides to reach the university, adding hassle to their trips and increasing their daily transportation expenses.
Students with limited allowances may be particularly affected by the additional fares, especially those who regularly travel to and from the campus for classes and other academic requirements.
For Rhavelyn Kim Montinola, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) student, the restriction has affected her daily transportation expenses.
“It has made traveling to school way more expensive. Since I live far from school, I used to take three rides just to get to campus. Now, because we are forced to drop off at the New Bus Terminal, I have to take four rides. Paying double fare eats up a huge part of my daily allowance,” Montinola explained.
The route change may also require students to allocate more time for commuting as they transfer to other vehicles to reach their destinations.
Micaela Celodo, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Chemistry student, said she now experiences longer travel times, delays, or difficulties arriving at EVSU – Main Campus because of the route change.
“[Since] our house is far, I need to ride early. But since they changed the route, I need to leave even earlier because there is always traffic, especially in Tacloban,” she said.
Finding alternative routes amid transport restrictions
Following the implementation of the restrictions, EVSUnistas are now adjusting their daily commutes to the campus as transport restrictions force students to take alternative routes, increasing travel time and transportation expenses.
Jeffrey Silvano, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) student, shared that he now needs to take multiple rides to reach the university, a change from his usual route that has added to his daily expenses.
“Since Campetic is rerouting from Abucay terminal back again to Palo, restricting them from going further into Tacloban Downtown, now I ride two stops from my home to Abucay, then ride again a direct multicab to Downtown, which will not pass directly to EVSU,” Silvano expressed.
He added that he takes a tricycle when he is in a hurry or walks from the national road along Avenida Veteranos, near LBC Express-Tacloban Imelda, to reach the campus.
“Basically, I take two to three rides, depending on how rushed I am. This goes over my budget. Instead of paying only 13 pesos, I now spend around 26 pesos for two rides and 36 pesos for three rides,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zean Clifford Dellera, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering student, said he also takes a longer route to the university following the implementation of the restrictions.
Dellera shared that he previously took a bus via the Maharlika Highway, which dropped him off directly at EVSU. However, he now takes a multicab from Marasbaras and gets off at the intersection of Salazar Street and Avenida Veteranos, locally known as Eskina Quarry, before walking to the campus.
Although he has adjusted his route to manage transportation costs, Dellera said his daily commute has become longer.
“I am experiencing longer travel times since nagtitipid ako. I take a longer route para makatipid. Dati, 45 minutes, makakaabot na ako sa EVSU; ngayon, umaabot na ng one hour,” he said.
TOMECO cites route regulations and traffic violations
Chief Engr. Gary Soriano of TOMECO explained that the restriction is based on City Ordinance No. 2024-15-19, which excludes the Tacloban-Campetic route from the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
In 2024, Tacloban City temporarily suspended the implementation of its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), restricting Campetic-bound PUVs from entering downtown following commuter complaints. A revised route arrangement was introduced in May 2025, allowing Campetic multicabs to enter the city during designated rush hours and requiring them to use the Abucay New Bus Terminal route outside those periods.
According to Soriano in an interview with K5 News FM, the city had previously considered the drivers’ request to pass through Salazar Street toward the Apitong area, provided they complied with traffic regulations and agreements with authorities.
Soriano further noted that the city allowed the route to accommodate passengers, particularly students and employees traveling during rush hours.
“So nagkaada ini negotiation between the City Government of Tacloban ngan ha ira. Natugotan nala hira, pero kutob nala ha [mga] university. Gintugot la ha ira, rush hour time. Han aga mayda kita rush hour, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. [Ha] kulop mayda kita rush hour, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.,” Soriano explained.
However, complaints regarding multicabs allegedly parking along Salazar Street and obstructing the flow of traffic prompted the office to reinstate the restriction.
“Bisan tanan na mga tawo dinhe ha siyudad han Tacloban, kita na mismo an ginhihimo nira na violation. Ha Card Bank, an eskina han Quarry, kutob ngadto ha tulay han Quarry, nagte-terminal na po hira. Nags-stambay na hin duro. Considering nga narrow street dida, ma-traffic hin duro an Salazar-Imelda nga intersection, hira kasi an nakaka-traffic hin duro,” he explained.
However, multicab drivers plying the Campetic-Tacloban route clarified that their trips to downtown are primarily intended to pick up additional passengers to help cover the ₱250 in expenses incurred for each one-way trip.
They explained that the additional passengers serve as a means of supplementing their income and offsetting their operating costs.
Drivers express concerns over student commuters and lost income
Drivers plying the Palo-Tacloban route have raised concerns over the potential loss of income as transport restrictions limit their access to downtown destinations, prompting them to seek passengers along alternative areas.
With their trips restricted during prohibited hours, drivers may face changes in passenger demand and trip frequency, affecting their ability to cover fuel expenses and meet their daily boundary payments.
In an interview, Ariel Duque, a modern PUV bus driver along the Campetic-Tacloban via Maharlika Highway route, said that the travel restrictions have caused a significant decrease in their income, noting that fuel prices remain high.
“Kon parte la ha akon, dati nalapos adto hin 3,000 pesos. Dire kami namomoblema han amon ginbonoundary. Yana, maupay na iton 800, 700 [pesos],” he said.
Aside from their financial concerns, drivers also raised concerns over the inconvenience the restrictions may cause students who rely on public utility vehicles (PUVs) for their daily commute, particularly those traveling to and from schools in downtown Tacloban.
“Damo ito na university iton amon pag-seserbehan, halos tanan. Pinaka dako iton EVSU, LNU (Leyte Normal University) tapos susugaron la nira,” he further added.
They noted that limited access to the city center could leave students with fewer transportation options and require them to take alternative routes or additional rides to reach their destinations.
The one-month extension
As of writing, several PUV cooperatives have reported receiving information that the traffic restrictions may once again be temporarily lifted for one month, beginning Monday, November 2.
The reported suspension remains subject to official confirmation, leaving commuters and transport workers awaiting further details on the route’s next arrangement.
Article by Carl Anthony Dotingco