Cubao terminal vendors struggle despite holiday travel surge

MANILA — While passenger volumes at Cubao bus terminal have surged ahead of the Undas holiday break, food vendors operating at the transport hub say business has not met their expectations. Yolanda Reynoso, a longtime food vendor, said she and her colleagues are logging longer working hours in hopes of at least breaking even during the peak travel period. The disconnect between foot traffic and actual sales highlights the challenges facing small merchants at Manila's major transport terminals, where rising operational costs and increased competition make profitability difficult. Reynoso's experience reflects a broader pattern among terminal vendors who, despite the holiday rush bringing thousands of travelers daily, struggle to convert increased passenger flows into sufficient revenue. Industry observers note that while terminal operators benefit from higher transaction volumes during major holidays, many small vendors fail to see proportional gains in their earnings.